Pre Operative
Pre Operative
Pre Operative
Purpose
Patients who are physically and psychologically prepared for surgery
tend to have better surgical outcomes. Preoperative teaching meets
the patient's need for information regarding the surgical experience,
which in turn may alleviate most of his or her fears. Patients who are
more knowledgeable about what to expect after surgery, and who have
an opportunity to express their goals and opinions, often cope better
with postoperative pain and decreased mobility. Preoperative care is
extremely important prior to any invasive procedure, regardless of
whether the procedure is minimally invasive or a form of major surgery.
Preoperative teaching must be individualized for each patient. Some
people want as much information as possible, while others prefer only
minimal information because too much knowledge may increase their
anxiety. Patients have different abilities to comprehend medical
procedures; some prefer printed information, while others learn more
from oral presentations. It is important for the patient to ask questions
during preoperative teaching sessions.
Description
Preoperative care involves many components, and may be done the
day before surgery in the hospital, or during the weeks before surgery
on an outpatient basis. Many surgical procedures are now performed in
a day surgery setting, and the patient is never admitted to the
hospital.
Physical preparation
Psychological preparation
Patients are often fearful or anxious about having surgery. It is often
helpful for them to express their concerns to health care workers. This
can be especially beneficial for patients who are critically ill, or who are
having a high-risk procedure. The family needs to be included in
psychological preoperative care. Pastoral care is usually offered in the
hospital. If the patient has a fear of dying during surgery, this concern
should be expressed, and the surgeon notified. In some cases, the
procedure may be postponed until the patient feels more secure.
Children may be especially fearful. They should be allowed to have a
parent with them as much as possible, as long as the parent is not
demonstrably fearful and contributing to the child's apprehension.
Children should be encouraged to bring a favorite toy or blanket to the
hospital on the day of surgery.
Patients and families who are prepared psychologically tend to cope
better with the patient's postoperative course. Preparation leads to
superior outcomes since the goals of recovery are known ahead of
time, and the patient is able to manage postoperative pain more
effectively.
Informed consent
Preoperative teaching
Preparation
It is important to allow adequate time for preparation prior to surgery.
The patient should understand that he or she has the right to add or
strike out items on the generic consent form that do not pertain to the
specific surgery. For example, a patient who is about to undergo a
tonsillectomy might choose to strike out (and initial) an item that
indicates sterility might be a complication of the operation.
Normal results
The anticipated outcome of preoperative care is a patient who is
informed about the surgical course, and copes with it successfully. The
goal is to decrease complications and promote recovery.