Nurse_student_help_Angel

Spinal or Epidural anesthesia

2008-11-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

Spinal anesthesia is a form of regional anesthesia that involves injection of the anesthetic agent adjacent to the spinal cord or just outside it using a long needle. This renders the portion of the body beyond or below(as the case maybe) the point of injection numb and anaesthetized, while the rest of the body remains unanaesthetised. The injection is usually administered in the lumbar (low back) spine. This form of anesthesia is easy to be administered and is ideally suited for surgeries performed in the lower parts of the body.

For further discussion you can email me at darkerick007@yahoo.com

Anaesthesia - History and Origins

2008-11-25T20:49:00.001-08:00

"Doctor, will you give me chloroform or anaesthesia?"This is the often-repeated query by many patients about to undergo an operation. Little do they know that chloroform became obsolete decades ago. Anaesthesia has come a long way since then, being much more safe today than it was a long time ago. General anaesthesia as it is called today can be administered with just a small prick of a needle, injecting the anaesthetic into the person's vein of the hand, while he falls into deep slumber to wake up after the surgery.
window.google_render_ad();
What would it be like to undergo an operation without anaesthesia? A torture of the worst kind. And that is how our ancestors felt when they had to have an operation. No wonder then, without the benefit of anaesthesia to make them oblivious to the pain of surgery, they depended on magic, rituals and incantations to cure their symptoms. Advancement in anesthesia techniques helped the development of surgery too and take it to new heights in last ten to twenty years. It would be difficult to talk about the origin of anaesthesia without taking note of the first pain relieving drugs. The ancient Egyptians used poppy seeds (from which opium is derived) during the operations. The Romans used the extract of the Mandragora plant to alleviate pain, the Greek used herbs like hemp and the Chinese used cannabis. Some of these were used for surgery, but anaesthesia as it exists today was unknown. Between 2nd and 5th century, people used mandragora mixed with wine and opium for surgery. Sometimes physical methods like compression of blood vessels or the nerves by means of clamps applied over the limbs were used to numb the area. 'Refrigeration anaesthesia' meant using cold water or snow to numb the region so that surgeries like amputations or abscesses drainage could be done; however the numbing procedure itself meant nothing short of torture. Blood letting, hypnosis, even the barbaric custom of giving a forceful knock on the patient's head, to give rise to a concussion and render the patient unconscious were used as a means of anaesthetizing someone.

About General Anesthesia

2008-11-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

The word "anesthesia" comes from a Greek word meaning absence or loss of sensation. Different types of anesthesia are used in procedures such as tooth extractions to complex procedures such as heart surgery. The anesthesia is used to block pain signals traveling through the nervous system. The type of anesthesia that is to be delivered will depend on:
window.google_render_ad();
The general health condition, The type of surgery and other clinical consideration. A careful consultation with the Anaesthetist and Surgeon can help determine the type of anesthesia that is required for the procedure. General anesthesia is usually administered when there is a need for more extensive surgery. This form of anesthesia is nothing more than putting a patient to sleep until the surgery is over. While this is being done, the functioning of other vital organs such as the heart, kidney and lungs is monitored constantly. General Anesthesia is usually administered through an intravenous route or through inhalation. From this point one will not be aware of anything else during the operation. Following this, a tube called as the endotracheal tube or the breathing tube is placed inside the windpipe. The tube is connected to a machine that delivers oxygen and removes carbondioxide from the lungs. The set up ensure that the oxygen required for breathing and anaesthetic gases are delivered properly. A monitor can be used to determine whether the tube is properly positioned and whether adequate ventilation is provided throughout the surgery. During the entire surgical procedure the heart rate, blood pressure and the oxygen level in blood are evaluated through monitors.

Medical Procedures Amniocentesis

2008-11-23T22:09:00.000-08:00

Amniocentesis is the primary diagnostic procedure for antenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. It is a simple medical procedure done during pregnancy for obtaining samples of the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds the fetus and provides a cushioning effect.

Also called simply as "Amnio" and is usually is done after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The procedure should be considered in the following situations: Women in their mid-30's and over, especially those who are pregnant for the first time.

Women who have had a child with a chromosomal abnormality like Down syndrome in their previous pregnancies. Women with history of previous stillborn or spontaneous abortions.

Women who have had a child with a neural tube defect such as spina-bifida. Women who know that either they or their spouse, have a family history of inherited disorders, which can be diagnosed.

Women who have had exposure to radiation or chemotherapeutic agentsBabies of women with metabolic disorders are sometimes at risk with chromosomal abnormalities like,

1. Autoimmune thyroditis

2. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiencies

3. Diabetes mellitus

Patient's Right and Responsibilities

2008-11-23T21:29:00.001-08:00

Respect
Your Rights
· To be treated with respect and courtesy
· To receive safe, considerate, ethical and cost effective medical care
· To have your individual cultural, spiritual and psychological needs respected
· To have your privacy and personal dignity maintained
· To expect that information regarding your care will be treated as confidential

Your Responsibilities
· To respect hospital personnel
· To respect care givers’ effort to provide care for other patients
· To respect hospital property
· To be considerate of other patients and to see that your visitors do the same

Treatment
Your Rights
· To receive treatment regardless of race, religion or any other discrimination prohibited by law.
· To receive emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay
· To expect reasonable continuity of care and to be informed of available and realistic care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate
· To have your needs for pain management addressed and treated
· To be free from the use of restraints and/or seclusion unless clinically necessary.

Your Responsibilities
· To follow your caregivers’ instructions and help them in their efforts to return you to health.
· To inform your caregiver if you think there may be problems in following their instructions
· To participate in decision making about your medical care
· To recognize the impact of lifestyle on your personal health

Information
Your Rights
· To understand your diagnosis and treatment, as well as the possible outcomes, risks and benefits of your care.
· To have information regarding your medical treatment explained to your family member or other appropriate individual when you are unable to participate in decisions about your care.
· To be advised of hospital policies, procedures, rules and regulations that may affect your care.
· To understand that your caregiver may both be teachers and students
· To know the names/ titles of your caregiver.
· To see your medical records (in accordance with hospital policy and/or the law)
· To review your bill and to have any questions or concerns you have adequately addressed.
Your Rights
· To provide the hospital with accurate and complete information about your medical history
· To ask your doctors for more information if you d not understand your illness or treatment
· To provide the hospital with necessary payment and/or insurance information

Involvement

Your Rights
· To be involved in decisions concerning your care
· To have your family members and/or others from participating in decisions about your care
· To discuss any treatment planned for you
· To give your informed consent or informed refusal for treatment
· To leave the hospital or request a transfer (in accordance with hospital policy and/or the law)

Your Responsibilities
· To abide by hospital rules and regulations
· To keep your appointments
· To pay your bills on time
· To inform the hospital management if you believe your rights have been violated

Definition of Nursing

2008-11-23T20:54:00.000-08:00

Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles.