. Surgical and gynæcological nursing. f operatingtable in use at the present time are primarily designed, as theyshould be, for the convenience of the operator, but it is unfortu-nate that in most cases the comfort of the person lying on thetable is not thought worthy of even secondary consideration. 320 THE OPERATION In the anaesthetized patient all the muscles are completely re-laxed, and in this condition he is peculiarly liable to injury fromlying for a long time in a strained and unnatural position. Twopoints are especially to be remembered. If an arm or a leg isallowed to hang over the s
. Surgical and gynæcological nursing. f operatingtable in use at the present time are primarily designed, as theyshould be, for the convenience of the operator, but it is unfortu-nate that in most cases the comfort of the person lying on thetable is not thought worthy of even secondary consideration. 320 THE OPERATION In the anaesthetized patient all the muscles are completely re-laxed, and in this condition he is peculiarly liable to injury fromlying for a long time in a strained and unnatural position. Twopoints are especially to be remembered. If an arm or a leg isallowed to hang over the side of the table (Fig. 118), pressure ofthe sharp edge will inevitably cause a painful injury, from whichthe patient will suffer acutely for many days. If one of thelarge nerve trunks happens to lie in the line of pressure, paraly-sis of the muscles supplied by it will follow which may not berecovered from for weeks or months. Pressure from straps orupright posts attached to the table may also be responsible forinjuries of this Fia. 118.—Position for breast operation, showing improper position of arm resting onedge of table. Arm should be held by nurse to prevent pressure. The curve of the back where it does not touch the tableshould be properly supported by a cushion or pillow. Withoutthis precaution the relaxed and unconscious patient is subjectedto severe strain of the spinal ligaments and muscles, and this isexaggerated when, as in gall-stone operations (Fig. 119), a hardsupport is placed under the lower ribs, if the small of the backis not supported at the same time. From this cause patientsoften suffer agonizing backache for days after an temperature of the operating room should be kept be-tween 75° and 85° F. to prevent any danger of chilling. Dur-ing the progress of the operation, those parts of the patientthat are not necessarily exposed for operative purposes arekept warmly wrapped and covered in blankets. In some of PREPARATION FOR AN OPERAT
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectgenitaldiseasesfemal
