Question

Based on the five case studies, answer the questions in your own words for each case study, using complete sentences, and providing examples, if applicable.

Case Study 1

During an appendectomy, the patient, a 16-year-old male, exhibits decreased oxygen saturation, hypotension, decreased breath sounds, and increased airway pressures during ventilation.

• What is most likely happening with this patient?
• What should you do as a surgical tech in the scrubbed role?
• What will the anesthesia provider most likely do?

Case Study 2

As you drape your patient for an abdominal procedure, you notice red, raised patches on the skin which you suspect are hives.

• As the surgical tech in the scrubbed role what action should you take?
• What is a likely cause of the sort of reaction the patient is having?
• If the reaction becomes worse and potentially life threatening, what is that called?
• What medications might be given to this patient (for a mild reaction and for a severe reaction)?

Case Study 3

Shortly after extubation, the patient, a 5-year-old female with a history of asthma, exhibits stridor on inspiration and oxygen desaturation.

• What is likely happening to this patient?
• What will the anesthesia provider do?

Case Study 4

During an exploratory laparotomy for a bowel obstruction the patient goes into cardiac arrest. A code blue is called.

• What is the role of the surgical technologist in the scrubbed role?
• What is the role of a surgical technologist who is not scrubbed into the case (assisting the circulator, or between assignments)?
• What does “ABCD” mean in a code blue situation?
• What medications might be given to the patient during the code blue and what are they given for?

Case Study 5

During a surgical procedure, the patient exhibits an increased end-tidal CO2, tachycardia, tachypnea, and masseter muscle rigidity. While the anesthesia provider is attempting to determine the cause of these symptoms, the patient begins to show signs of pyrexia and diaphoresis.

• What condition does this patient likely have?
• What causes the condition?
• What is the treatment for the condition?

Answer 1

1, Anesthesia during surgery causes a sudden drop of blood pressure due to blood loss that causes a sudden drop of blood pressure, shallow breathing, weak pulse, high airway pressure during ventilation.
surgical tech help surgeon and anesthetist to monitor patient progress, setting all the equipment ready for the procedure, and help to handle the equipment. in this situation, the surgical tech should monitor the patient's progress by restoring blood flow, providing oxygen supply, and fluid resuscitation. An anesthesia provider's role to restore adequate perfusion to the brain and heart is important. increasing oxygen concentration, adequate cardiac perfusion pressure optimizing the metabolic status is important. it is the anesthetist's role to administer medication for the patient to restore the fluid volume. medication management to be done. that to reduce the oxygen demand and cardiac tension to avoid complications. An anesthesia provider should monitor the patient closely and deliver the medications whenever needed.
2, If the surgical technician notices the hives ask the patient regarding the allergic reaction. inform the surgeon and anesthetist regarding the allergic conditions to make safety before the surgery.
the patient may be allergic to antibiotics and other antiseptic chlorhexidine.
this condition is called anaphylaxis.it is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction that can be fatal.
a mild allergic reaction can be treated with antihistamines. corticosteroid can be given for severe allergic reaction to block the immune system chemicals to be active.
3, the main reason for this stridor after extubation due to over ventilation or prolonged intubation that increases the respiratory distress and laryngeal edema.
anesthesia provider must reintubate the child with steroids administration and must check the cuff leak. test whether the cuff leak is present or not. if a cuff leak is present it is safe.
the anesthetist must consider using a cuffed orotracheal cannula for the child.