Surgical Technology Chapter 14

Unconsciousness

A neurological state in which the person is unable to respond to external stimuli. Unconsciousness can be induced with drugs or may be caused by trauma or disease.

Apnea

A period of cessation of breathing.

Anesthesiologist

A physician specialist in the administration of anesthetics and pain management

Anesthesia Care Provider (ACP)

A professional who is licensed to administer anesthetic agents and manage the patient through out the period of anesthesia.

Intraoperative awareness (IOA)

A rare condition in which a patient undergoing general anesthesia is able to feel pain and other noxious stimuli but unable to respond.

Maligalant hyperthermia

A rare state of hypermetabolism that occurs in association with inhalation anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking agents. In extreme cases, the condition causes hyperpyrexia, seizures and cardiac arrhythmia.

Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)

A registered nurse trained and licensed to administer anesthetic agents.

Esmarch bandage

A rolled bandage made of rubber or latex that is used to exsanguinate blood from a limb.

Bolus injection

A single dose of medication administered all at one time.

Balanced anesthesia

A somewhat outdated term used to describe the use of multiple drugs to produce sedation, analgesia, amnesia, and muscle relaxation during general anesthesia.

Homeostasis

A state of balance in physiological function.

Delirium

A state of confusion and disorientation.

Hypothermia

A subnormal body temperature.

Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent

Agent that binds to the muscle's cholinergic receptor to increase muscle paralysis.

Pneumatic tourniquet

An air-filled tourniquet used to prevent blood glow to an extremity during surgery.

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA)

An airway consisting of a tube and small mask that is fitted internally over the patient's larynx.

Anesthesia technologist

An allied health professional trained to assist the anesthesia care provider.

Sedation

An arousable state in which an individual is unaware of sensory stimuli. Depression of the central nervous system.

Endotracheal tube

An artificial airway (tube) that is inserted into the patient's trachea to maintain patency.

Bronchospasm

An involuntary smooth muscle spasm of the bronchi.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

An obstruction in a pulmonary vessel caused by a blood clot, air bubble, or foreign body caused sudden pain and possible pulmonary arrest.

Sensation

The ability to fell stimuli in the environment "e.g., pain, heat, touch, visual stimuli, and sound."

Analgesia

The absence of pain, produced by specific drug.

Anesthesia

The absence of sensory awareness or medically induced unconsciousness.

Breathing bag

The reservoir breathing apparatus of the anesthesia machine. Gases are titrated and shunted into the breathing bag, which connected to the patient's airway.

Emergence

The stage in general anesthesia in which the anesthetic agent is withdrawn and the patient regains consciousness.

Central nervous system depression

This refers to a decrease in sensory awareness caused by drugs or a pathologic condition.

Extubation

Withdrawal of an artificial airway.

Bispectral index system (BIS)

A monitoring method used to determine the patient's level of consciousness and prevent intraoperative awareness.

Anesthesia machine

A biotechnical device used to deliver anesthetic gases or volatile liquids and provide physiological monitoring.

Cyanosis

A blue or dusky hue of the skin that results from inadequate perfusion of tissue.

Neuromuscular blocking agent

A drug that blocks nerve conduction in striated muscle tissue.

Sedative

A drug that induces a range of unconscious states. The effects are dose dependent. At low doses, sedatives cause some drowsiness. Increasing the dose causes central nervous system depression, ending in loss of consciousness.

Anxiolytic

A drug that reduces anxiety.

Anesthetic

A drug that reduces or blocks sensation or induces unconsciousness.

Laryngoscope

A lighted instrument used to assist endotracheal intubation.

intraoperative cell salvage

A method of collecting blood at the surgical site and immediately reusing it by infusing it back to the patient during surgery.

Pulse oximeter

A monitoring device that measures the patient's hemoglobin oxygen saturation by means of spectrometry.

General anesthesia

Anesthesia associated with a state of unconsciousness. General anesthesia is not a fixed state of unconsciousness, but rather ranges along a continuum from semiresponsiveness to profound unresponsiveness.

Regional block

Anesthesia in a specific area of the body, achieved by injection of an anesthetic around a major nerve or group of nerves.

Topical anesthesia

Anesthesia of superficial nerves of the skin or mucous membranes.

Nasopharyngeal airway

Artificial airway between the nostril and the nasopharynx; used in semiconscious patients or when an oral airway is contraindicated.

Oropharyngeal airway

Artificial airway that is inserted over the tongue into the larynx; used in patients in which endotracheal intubation is difficult or contraindicated.

Physiological monitoring

Assessment of the patient's vital metabolic functions.

Neurotransmitter

Biochemical that carries nerve transmissions from one neuron to another.

Perfusion

Circulation of blood to specific tissue, organ, system, or the whole body is called perfusion. Perfusion is necessary to maintain life in the cells.

Controlled hypothermia

Deliberate lowering of the patient's core body temperature during general anesthesia.

Cricoid pressure

Direct manual pressure on the cricoid cartilage to prevent aspiration and facilitate intubation.

Polarizing neuromuscular blocking agents

Drugs used to cause muscle paralysis by stimulating involuntary muscles followed by fatigue.

intravascular volume

Fluid volume within the blood vessels.

Antegrade amnesia

In anesthesia, the patient's inability to recall events that occur after the administration of specific drugs. After the drug is metabolized and cleared from the body, normal recall returns.

Infusion

Gradual administration of a drug over a specified period.

Induction

Initiation of general anesthesia with a drug that causes unconsciousness.

Vital signs

Minimum assessment of heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate. In actual practice, a qualitative assessment of these indicators is necessary to provide a more meaningful picture of the patient's cardiac, ventilatory, and perfusion status.

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC)

Monitoring of vital functions during regional anesthesia to ensure the patient's safety and comfort.

Protective reflexes

Nervous system responses to harmful environmental stimuli, such as pain, obstruction of the airway, and extreme temperature. Coughing, blinking, shivering, and withdrawal "from pain", are protective reflexes.

Consciousness

Neurological status in which a patient is able to sense environmental stimuli such as sight, sound, touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold.

Preoperative medication

One or more drugs administered before surgery to prevent complications related to the surgical procedure or anesthesia.

Bier block

Regional anesthesia in which the anesthetic agent is injected into a vein.

Airway

The anatomical passageway or artificial tube through which the patient breathes.

Gas scavenging

The capture and safe removal of extraneous anesthetic gases from the anesthesia machine.

Postanesthesia recovery unit (PACU)

The critical care area in which patients recover from the sedation of general anesthesia.

Coma

The deepest state of unconsciousness, in which most brain activity ceases.

Amnesia

The loss of recall of events or sensation.

Ventilation

The physical act of taking air into the lungs by inflation and releasing carbon dioxide from the lungs by deflation.

Intubation

The process of inserting an invasive artificial airway.