Most patients under the legal age of adulthood cannot sign their own surgical consent, but a minor who is emancipated, legally granted the rights of an adult, can.
Missing Word
emancipated
An emancipated minor has been released from parental control, by court order or by circumstances that state law recognizes, such as marriage, and may consent to their own care. For other minors, a parent or legal guardian gives consent for planned surgery.
Category: Informed Consent
Question 2
When the patient signs the surgical consent form, the preoperative nurse signs as a witness to that signature.
Missing Word
witness
A witness confirms that the patient or guardian signed the form. The nurse's signature does not mean the nurse explained the procedure; that disclosure belongs to the surgeon.
Category: Informed Consent
Question 3
Before surgery, the nurse asks about allergies to medications, foods, blood products and latex, the natural rubber found in many gloves and catheters.
Missing Word
latex
Latex is one of the allergens the nurse asks about, along with medications, foods, blood transfusions and contrast. A reported allergy is documented, banded and passed to the intraoperative team so the room can be stocked with latex-free supplies.
Category: Medication Safety
Question 4
In a patient with severe obesity, shallow breathing while lying supine and sleep apnea raise the risk of postoperative pneumonia, an infection of the lung tissue.
Missing Word
pneumonia
Pneumonia, along with hypoventilation and atelectasis, is a pulmonary complication that is more likely in bariatric patients because excess weight limits chest expansion. Teaching deep breathing and incentive spirometer use before surgery helps prevent it.
Category: Special Populations
Question 5
Because a patient with diabetes takes nothing by mouth before surgery, the provider may lower the usual insulin dose to prevent hypoglycemia, a dangerously low blood glucose level.
Missing Word
hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a low blood glucose level. Fasting removes the patient's usual food intake while insulin keeps lowering glucose, so the dose may be reduced as the provider instructs, and blood glucose is checked on the morning of surgery and monitored during and after the procedure.
Category: Endocrine Risks
Question 6
A pregnancy test is often done on the day of surgery for patients of childbearing potential, because anesthesia and surgery carry risks for a fetus.
Missing Word
pregnancy
Testing on the day of surgery gives the most current result. If the patient is pregnant, elective surgery may be postponed and the pregnancy care provider joins the team.
Category: Preoperative Testing
Question 7
Adequate dietary protein before surgery matters because its amino acids are needed to build new tissue during wound healing.
Missing Word
protein
Protein supplies the amino acids used to repair tissue, so nutrient deficiencies are corrected before surgery when possible. Malnutrition delays healing and raises the risk of complications.
Category: Nutrition and Fluids
Question 8
An active urinary tract infection that could delay a planned surgery is often detected by a urinalysis, which checks a urine sample's color, clarity, specific gravity, glucose and bacteria.
Missing Word
urinalysis
A urinalysis is a laboratory examination of a urine sample. Along with the white blood cell count, it helps detect infection that could impair healing and cause surgery to be postponed.
Category: Preoperative Testing
Question 9
In a patient with severe obesity, the weight of excess tissue pressing on an abdominal incision raises the risk of dehiscence, a separation of the wound edges.
Missing Word
dehiscence
Dehiscence is the partial or complete reopening of a surgical wound. Extra tissue weight, reduced blood flow and conditions such as diabetes make it more likely in patients with obesity.
Category: Special Populations
Question 10
Loose or damaged teeth are noted before surgery because the laryngoscope, the lighted blade used to view the vocal cords when the breathing tube is placed, can break or dislodge them.
Missing Word
laryngoscope
A tooth broken or knocked loose during airway placement can be inhaled. Examining the teeth beforehand lets the anesthesia provider plan and protects the patient's airway.
Category: Anesthesia Risks
Question 11
Removable dentures, which replace natural teeth, are taken out before general anesthesia so they cannot come loose and block the airway.
Missing Word
dentures
Dentures are recorded with the patient's other corrective devices, such as glasses and hearing aids. Taking them out before anesthesia keeps them from dislodging into the airway during airway management, and they are stored safely so they can be returned after surgery.
Category: Preventing Complications
Question 12
A patient with poorly controlled hyperthyroidism is at risk for thyrotoxicosis during the stress of surgery.
Missing Word
hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is overproduction of thyroid hormone. Surgical stress can push an uncontrolled case into thyrotoxicosis, a dangerous hypermetabolic state, so thyroid function is controlled before surgery.
Category: Endocrine Risks
Question 13
On preoperative bloodwork, leukocytosis, a white blood cell count above the normal range, can signal an infection that is reported before a planned surgery goes ahead.
Missing Word
leukocytosis
Leukocytosis is an elevated white blood cell count. Because an active infection can impair healing, the nurse reports the result to the surgeon and anesthesia provider, who decide whether the procedure should wait.
Category: Preoperative Testing
Question 14
Jewelry and body piercings are removed before surgery because the metal in them can spark and cause burns or a fire when electrical surgical equipment is used.
Missing Word
metal
Metal conducts current from electrosurgical equipment, so jewelry, piercings and clothing with metal parts are removed. Removal also prevents pressure and swelling injuries during surgery.
Category: Preventing Complications
Question 15
For a pregnant patient, elective surgery, which is planned rather than medically necessary right away, is usually postponed until after delivery.
Missing Word
elective
Elective surgery is scheduled in advance and is not needed immediately. Postponing it avoids risk to the fetus, while medically necessary surgery proceeds with close monitoring of both patient and fetus.
Category: Special Populations