SURGERY

Introduction

It is important to understand that you are going to work extremely long hours during your clerkship and not to complain about it.  The importance of knowing your place will become apparent quickly.  Do not expect to always be able to see the surgery, or do much more than hold retractors, cut suture, or operate suction.  It is vital that you always politely introduce yourself to the scrub nurse and circulator when you enter the OR and ask whether they have gloves and a gown for you before you scrub in for the case.

 


OPERATIVE NOTE

1.    Pre-op diagnosis

2.    Post-op diagnosis

3.    Findings

4.    Procedure

5.    Surgeon

6.    Assistant(s)

7.    Anesthesia (type, anesthetist)

8.    Specimen(s)

9.    Estimated blood loss

10. Fluids

11. Tubes/drains

12. Complications

13. Miscellaneous/special meds


POST-OPERATIVE ORDERS

Disposition

Where you want the patient to go…

Special Recovery Room Requests: labs, CXR, etc.

Vitals

q4h (or as per routine)

Tubes/Drains

NG à wall suction, Foley to gravity…

Bed Position

Elevated to __o

Activity

where, frequency, etc.

Diet

NPO except sips/chips, clear, regular…

AM Labs

 

Meds

“6 A’s and home meds” = analgesics, antibiotics, antiemetics, antacids, anticoagulants, antiinflammatories

Things specific to operative site

Pneumatic anti-embolism stockings


 

Differential Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain (by location)


Right upper quadrant

Cholecystitis

Cholangitis

Pancreatitis

Hepatitis

Budd-Chiari syndrome

Subdiaphragmatic abscess

Pneumonia / empyema / pleurisy

Right lower quadrant

Appendicitis

Inguinal hernia

Salpingitis

Ectopic pregnancy

Inflammatory bowel disease

Mesenteric adenitis (Yersinia)

Epigastric

Peptic ulcer disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Pancreatitis

Ruptured aortic aneurysm

Gastritis

Myocardial infarction

Pericarditis

Periumbilical

Early appendicitis

Bowel obstruction

Ruptured aortic aneurysm

Gastroenteritis

Left upper quadrant

Splenic infarct

Splenic abscess

Pancreatitis

Gastric ulcer

Gastritis

Left lower quadrant

Diverticulitis

Inguinal hernia

Inflammatory bowel disease

Salpingitis

Ectopic pregnancy

Irritable bowel disease

 

Diffuse: Causes include gastroenteritis, peritonitis, mesenteric ischemia, bowel obstruction

 


Causes of Small Bowel Obstruction

1.       Adhesions from prior surgery

2.       Hernias

3.       Inflammatory Bowel DZ

4.       Malignancy-lymphoma, carcinoid, metast.

5.       Intussusception

 

Recovery of Bowel Fx Post-Op: 1) Small Intest. 2) Stomach 3) Colon

Differential Diagnosis of Surgical Fevers


1.  Intraoperative or immediately post-operative

Malignant hyperthermia (halothane)

Transfusion reaction

Drug hypersensitivity

Atelectasis

Aspiration pneumonia

Endocrine (Addisonian crisis, thyroid storm, pheochromocytoma)

 

2.  Post-operative fever (any time)

Thrombophlebitis

Deep venous thrombosis

Drug hypersensitivity

Transfusion reactions

Central line sepsis

 

3.  Post-operative fever (< 24 hours)

C = Clostridial wound infections

S = Streptococcal wound infections

T = Thyroid problems

A = Addisonian crisis

T = Transfusion reaction

 

4.  Post-operative fever (> 24 hours)

POD# 1-2 = “Wind” (atelectasis)

POD# 3-4 = “Water” (urinary tract infections)

²      Pneumonia

²      IV complications (infection)

²      Wound complications (leaking anastamosis, hematoma)

POD# 4-6 = “Wound” (wound infections)

POD# 6-10 = “Walking” (DVT) and “Wonder drugs”

²      Abscess

²      Drug fever

²      Pneumonia

²      Wound infections

²      C. difficile colitis

²      Anastamotic leak


 

Fluids Management

 

What’s in a Bag of Fluids? (electrolytes in mEq/L)

 

Fluid

Na+

K+

Cl-

HCO3-

Ca2+

Kcal/L

Glc (g/L)

½NS

77

--

77

--

--

--

--

NS

154

--

154

--

--

--

--

D5W

--

--

--

--

--

170

50

LR

130

4

109

28

3

9

--

 

Content of Body Fluids (mEq/L)

 

 

Na+

K+

Cl-

HCO3-

Biliary

145

5

100

35

Diarrheal

60

35

40

30

Gastric

60

10

130

0

Ileal

130

5

100

50

Pancreas

140

5

75

115

Salivary

10

26

10

30

 

Daily Volume and Electrolyte Requirements

Daily maintenance fluids (assuming normal kidneys/heart)

            100 cc/kg for the first 10 kg

            50 cc/kg for the next 10 kg

            20 cc/kg for the remainder

or

            4 cc/kg/hr for the first 10 kg

            2 cc/kg/hr for the next 10 kg

            1 cc/kg/hr for the remainder

 

Sodium requirement = 1 – 2 mEq/kg/day

Potassium requirement = 0.5 – 1 mEq/kg/day

Urine output = 0.5 cc/kg/hr