1 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7
T
o protect
against corneal
abrasions and
dry eyes during gener-
al anesthesia cases,
most anesthesia
providers tape their
patients' eyes closed.
However, the timing of
the taping often varies
from provider to
provider. When possi-
ble, you should tape
the eyes prior to direct
laryngoscopy or LMA
insertion. This way,
when anesthesia
providers lean over
patients to secure the
airway, a pen, dangling
ID badge or wandering
finger won't cause an
inadvertent abrasion.
Jeffrey Cazier, MD
The Surgery Center
of Huntsville (Ala.)
drjcazier@tsch.biz
Tape the Eyes Before You Secure the Airway
Ideas Work
P r a c t i c a l p e a r l s f r o m y o u r c o l l e a g u e s
That
• TAPE JOB Patients are more likely to suffer a corneal abrasion if you tape their
eyes after you've secured the airway.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
