Canadian operating room nursing journal
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Cardiac arrest may occur intraoperatively at any time. The purpose of this article is to help the reader recognize and assist in the management of an intraoperative cardiac arrest. Patients who are at risk for cardiac arrest in the OR are identified and different types of pulseless arrythmias are identified. Roles of perioperative personnel are suggested and documentation during the code is discussed.
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Can Oper Room Nurs J · Jun 2009
Historical ArticleNursing and anaesthesia: historical developments in Canada.
There is little historical knowledge available about nurses' role in anaesthesia in Canada. It appears, from the few sources available, that nurses did administer anaesthesia in the early 20th century in Canada. The limited historiography reveals that nurses who worked in small rural hospitals across Canada were, due to the lack of physician specialty and coverage, involved in the administration of anaesthesia. ⋯ As the Canadian healthcare environment continues to change, and the need for anaesthesia services increases, new questions have begun to arise about the potential for an advanced practice role in anaesthesia for Canadian nurses. The demand for anaesthesia services is increasing in-line with the aging Canadian population and the shortage of available services is most dramatic in small, rural hospitals. This article provides important historical background on the development of the role of nurse anaesthetists in Canada.
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Approximately one to three per cent of pregnant women undergo surgery that is unrelated to their pregnancy. In Canada this represents about 5,000 patients each year that present unique challenges to the perioperative nurse and the entire surgical team. Approximately five to ten per cent of these patients are involved in trauma, which causes 46.3% of maternal deaths. ⋯ This decreases to less than five per cent in the second and third trimesters. Pre-term labor presents the greatest risk in the second and third trimesters. The most common need for surgery in pregnancy is associated with appendicitis, biliary tract disease, intestinal obstruction, urinary calculi and trauma.
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Can Oper Room Nurs J · Mar 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effects of intravenous fluids temperature on perioperative hemodynamic situation, post-operative shivering, and recovery in orthopaedic surgery.
Perioperative hypothermia is physiologically stressful because it elevates blood pressure, heart rate and plasma catecholamine concentration that may increase the risk of cardiac complications, bleeding, wound infection, and post-anaesthesia care unit stay. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of warming intravenous fluids on perioperative hemodynamic situation, post-operative shivering and recovery in orthopaedic surgery patients. ⋯ Intraoperative IV fluid warming reduces perioperative changes to the hemodynamic situation, post-operative shivering, and recovery time.