2 3
J U LY 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
desaturation that causes hypoxia, which may exacerbate coronary artery dis-
ease, leading to myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias.
• Impaired consciousness,
which can prolong a patient's awakening and discharge.
After the use of paralytic agents during general surgery, anesthesia providers per-
form a test called the "Train of Four," an electrical stimulation of the peripheral
nerves that measures the level of neuromuscular blockade remaining in the patient's
system, to determine whether they're able to breathe on their own again. A
hypothermic core temperature may trigger a false positive response and an overesti-
mation of the patient's paralysis. If unneeded reversal agents are administered, there
is a risk of post-op nausea and vomiting.
• Vasoconstriction,
which can hinder peripheral perfusion and deliver false
desaturation readings on the pulse oximeter.
• Decreased renal and liver blood flow,
which slows the body's metabolism of
P A T I E N T M A N A G E M E N T
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