What is a Lithotomy procedure?

Lithotomy from Greek for "lithos" (stone) and "tomos" (cut), is a surgical method for removal of calculi, stones formed inside certain organs, such as the urinary tract (kidney stones), bladder (bladder stones), and gallbladder (gallstones), that cannot exit naturally through the urinary system or biliary tract.

What is lithotomy in surgery?

The lithotomy position is often used during childbirth and surgery in the pelvic area. It involves lying on your back with your legs flexed 90 degrees at your hips. Your knees will be bent at 70 to 90 degrees, and padded foot rests attached to the table will support your legs.

Why is lithotomy position used?

The Lithotomy Position can be used during childbirth since it provides the doctor with good access to the mother and the baby. It was used as the standard position for childbirth procedures, but recently, most hospitals have shifted to using birthing beds or chairs.

How do you place a patient in a lithotomy position?

Standard lithotomy position requires the patients' legs to be separated from the midline into 30 to 45 degrees of abduction, with the hips flexed until the thighs are angled between 80 and 100 degrees.

How does a lithotomy work?

A lithotome is a surgical knife used during perineal lithotomy to remove bladder stones. The instrument has a concealed blade which opens when a lever is depressed on the handle.

Draping a patient in lithotomy position

Are you strapped down during surgery?

No. The nurse will help you to move onto the operating table, which will feel hard and sometimes cool. Since the operating room table is narrow a safety strap will be placed across your lower abdomen, thighs or legs. Your arms will be placed and secured on padded arm boards to prevent them from falling off the table.

What physiological effect is most likely to result from lithotomy position?

Lithotomy Position

Hemodynamic changes include the increased venous return and transient increases in preload and cardiac output. Respiratory changes result from cephalad displacement of abdominal contents resulting in decreased lung compliance, functional residual capacity, and tidal volume.

What is nursing management of lithotomy?

Lithotomy position

This position involves the patient lying supine with their legs raised, abducted and secured in leg positioning devices (stirrups) to expose the perineal area.

When the patient is in the lithotomy position the buttocks are?

[12] have tried to suggest the type of anesthesia and the patient's position based on the shape of the buttock. The lithotomy position is recommended for type A buttock (the mounds of the buttock make a low and gentle slope with the anal verge) and type C buttock (anus is located more anteriorly than usually).

Why do you slowly lower legs from lithotomy?

The risk of nerve injury increases with every hour spent in the lithotomy position. Intraoperative position changes of the legs can minimize the time spent in lithotomy and potentially limit nerve injuries.

What are the critical safety considerations for the lithotomy position?

General safety measures for lithotomy position: (1) The stirrups should be well-padded and positioned equal in height. (2) Two surgical personnel must lift the legs simultaneously and position in the stirrups.

What is exaggerated lithotomy?

The exaggerated lithotomy position is used during radical perineal prostatectomy to increase perineal exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the exaggerated lithotomy position on respiratory mechanics and arterial blood gases.

What are the 6 patient positions?

What position should a patient be in after abdominal surgery?

Supine. Patient lies on the back, face toward the ceiling, legs not crossed, arms at sides or on arm boards. This position is most often used for abdominal surgery, some pelvic surgery, open-heart surgery, surgery to the face, neck, mouth, and most surgeries of the extremities.

What nerves can be damaged in lithotomy position?

Most commonly injured lower extremity nerve in patients undergoing surgery in lithotomy position was the common peroneal nerve(L4-S2, represented 78% of nerve injuries in a study which looked retrospectively at 198,461 patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position).

Why does lithotomy cause compartment syndrome?

It has been shown that placing legs in the lithotomy position in an anaesthetised patient causes a decrease in blood pressure in the lower limb and a rise in the compartment pressure. Compartment syndrome is attributable to prolonged impairment of lower limb perfusion secondary to a rise in compartment pressure.

Why are the eyes taped shut during surgery?

We tape patient's eyes during surgery to protect them. During anesthesia based medical procedures, the most common type of damage to the eye is corneal abrasion. This tear or graze of the cornea on the eye is very painful for the patient.

Do you pee under anesthesia?

Urination Problems

General anesthesia paralyzes the bladder muscles. This can make it not only hard to pee, but impact your ability to recognize you have to urinate altogether. Additionally, many surgeries involve the placement of a Foley catheter—a tube put in the body to drain urine from the bladder.

Why are operating rooms kept cold?

Operating rooms are kept colder than normal so the surgeons and nurses feel comfortable. Of course, it's important that the patient's body temperature doesn't drop too much. If they get too cold, their blood won't clot properly, and they actually may be at a higher risk of infection.

Why do you place a patient on the left side?

Transport to Medical Care

Patients should be transported to a hospital as quickly, but as passively, as possible. They should be placed on their left side in the recovery position to prevent aspiration of vomit.

Which is a serious complication of being in the prone position?

Movement of patients to a prone position involves risk of serious complications such as a dislodged breathing tube or very low blood pressure.

What type of patient would benefit from an elevated head of the bed position?

What type of patient would benefit from an elevated head of the bed position? The answer is A. A patient with burns to the face and head needs to be in bed with the head of the bed elevated to prevent edema in the tracheal area (which could cause a respiratory arrest).

What is the meaning of Trendelenburg position?

The Trendelenburg position is a position for a patient on the operating table, most commonly used during lower abdominal surgeries and central venous catheter placement. In Trendelenburg position, the patient is supine on the table with their head declined below their feet at an angle of roughly 16°.