Essential Post-operative Nursing Interventions and Care

Essential Post-operative Nursing Interventions and Care

Question 1:

Whilst in the patient is in PACU, identify and discuss airway management (and rationales) for your chosen patient. (400 words).

Airway management post-operative main goal is to maintain patent airway and therefore reduce the risk of hypoxaemia, hypercapnia or hypoventilation. (Farrell & Dempsey, 2007 – chapter 15). A comprehensive assessment as described by Lambie (2010) “where airways, breathing, circulation, disability (dysfunction of central nervous system) and exposure are examined”. Therefore observations of pallor, sweating, general unease must be documented in the patient chart. Furthermore, respiratory function is variable and influenced by factors including: Pain, pulmonary oedema, respiratory depression due to morphine, airway obstruction (Lambie, 2010).