Preoperative Care.

Preoperative care.

* The patient's nothing-by-mouth (NPO)

* status, nutritional state,

* medical and surgical history,

* allergies,

* current medication,

* physical handicaps,

* signs of infection,

* Elimination habits are recorded.

* The patient's understanding of the operative,

* preoperative, and postoperative procedures;

* The patient's ability to verbalize anxieties; and the family's knowledge of the planned surgery are ascertained and education provided.

* The, accuracy of patient's signed informed consent is verified, requests in the physician's preoperative orders are fulfilled, and the patient's identification bands and blood type are checked.

* Vital signs are recorded, and any abnormalities of the electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, or laboratory tests are reported to the surgeon and anesthesiologist.

* If needed, the number of matched blood units required to be held for a possible blood transfusion is determined. When ordered, an enema is given, a bowel preparation is completed, a nasogastric

* Tube or indwelling catheter is inserted, and parenteral fluids are administered. If preoperative sedation is administered, the side rails of the bed are raised.

* Before transfer to the operating room with the completed chart, the patient voids, and any dentures, contact lenses, jewelry, and valuables are removed for safekeeping.

Postoperative care

Postoperative care begins in the recovery room and continues throughout the recovery period. Critical concerns are

* Airway clearance.

* Pain control.

* Mental status.

* Wound healing.

* Preventing urinary retention

* Preventing constipation

* Preventing deep venous thrombosis

* BP variability (high or low).

* For patients with diabetes, plasma glucose levels are monitored closely by finger stick testing every 1 to 4 h until patients are awake and eating because better glycemic control improves outcome....