Synopsis Although the field of plastic surgery has advanced significantly in its ability to provide “like for like” coverage of wounds with various flaps, skin grafting still provides a facile, effective, and expeditious method of wound coverage. In the appropriate…
Synopsis After successful surgery, the patient enters one of the most potentially hazardous phases of the procedure, namely emergence from anesthesia and the immediate post-operative period. The care team is busy with many tasks at this point, but the main…
Synopsis Adequate post-operative pain control minimizes suffering, improves patient satisfaction, promotes early mobilization, reduces the length of stay, and minimizes costs. Optimal pain control requires pre-operative education and perioperative pain management planning that encompasses a preventative analgesic approach that utilizes…
Synopsis Delivering care to a post-operative patient in a developing country, with different practice environments than we are used to, can provide unique challenges. A post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), staffed by specially trained and educated nurses, is well recognized as…
Synopsis Intraoperative anesthesia emergencies are common. Many emergencies can be prevented by effective preoperative evaluation. Successful treatment requires adequate preparation of equipment and drugs. Routine simulation of emergency scenarios will increase the likelihood that the intervention will be timely and…
Synopsis Surgery requires orchestration of numerous components, including requirements for satisfactory operating space; a clean, safe environment; working sterile equipment; and qualified anesthesia, nursing, and theater personnel. Also essential are factors outside of direct perioperative control. Guaranteeing that all of…
Synopsis The use of ultrasound (US) has revolutionized regional anesthesia and become an important component of surgical anesthesia and acute pain management. Its relative safety and ease of performance make it a perfect option for surgeries in resource-poor settings. Specifically,…
Synopsis Delivery of general anesthesia requires a trained anesthesia provider; the availability of functioning, safe anesthetic equipment and patient monitors; and the essential anesthetic and resuscitative medications. Anesthesia is an essential component of surgery, and when anesthesia services are inadequate,…
Synopsis The purpose of this chapter is to help experienced perioperative registered nurses prepare for their first international surgical trip by familiarizing them with the process of establishing and running a successful operating room (OR) in an unfamiliar facility in…
Synopsis Elective surgery in resource-limited countries is often performed by mobile surgical teams, either as an outreach within the country itself, or as a volunteer group from another country. These teams provide a needed service; however, they are often operating…