Question

2. The nurse in a gynecology clinic is completing preoperative teaching for a patient scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy next week. The patient states that she is currently taking 325 mg of aspirin daily for chronic joint pain, along with a multivitamin. The patient has type 2 diabetes; she closely monitors her blood glucose levels. Currently, she is taking an oral hypoglycemic agent. The nurse advises her to ask the anesthesiologist whether she should take this medication the morning of surgery. (Learning Objectives 2 and 4)

The nurse instructs the patient to stop taking the aspirin. What is the rationale for this action?

Why is it important to assess the patient for use of herbal products prior to surgery?

c.The patient asks how surgery could affect her blood glucose; how should the nurse respond?

Answer 1

The nurse instructs the patient to stop taking the aspirin. What is the rationale for this action?

In general, patients get instructed pre-operatively for cessation of aspirin for 7 days before surgery inorder to reduce the risk of preoperative bleeding and restart the medicine when the risk are getting reduced.

Why is it important to assess the patient for use of herbal products prior to surgery?

Inorder to avoid potential adverse effects, history of herbal products should be assessed. In addition herbal products interacts with clotting agents, blood pressure medications,anticlotting drugs, aspirin, immunosuppresants and also intensifies anesthesia effects even resulting in transplant rejection. Hence cessation of herbal drugs before 1-2 weeks is essential.

c.The patient asks how surgery could affect her blood glucose; how should the nurse respond?

Increase in blood sugar increases surgical complications. It delays healing and increases the chance of surgical site infection and also associated with poor prognosis and outcomes of patient.