Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses
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Obese patients are seen in every practice setting. Obesity is a chronic disease that may lead to physical and emotional problems, which may have an impact on the social and psychological functioning of the patient. With appropriate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative precautions; monitoring; and restructuring the environment to promote care and safety, the incidence of poor surgical outcomes can be minimized. This paper will address the significance of obesity, related diseases, and proper care of the obese patient.
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Advancements in technology and pharmacology, as well as improved techniques and instrumentation have allowed for much greater flexibility in how and where surgical and anesthesia care can be provided safely. Many procedures now take but a fraction of the time they used to take to complete and can be performed with minimal risk of blood loss and far less postoperative pain. Office-based surgery has emerged as a safe and viable alternative to traditional in-hospital surgery. This article provides an overview of the comprehensive "Standards for Office-Based Anesthesia Practice" developed by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).
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Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives are used in numerous settings to close wounds without the use of sutures. The product and its use for closing chest tube wounds is discussed.
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Elderly patients may be at greater risk for perioperative complications and mortality due to an increased prevalence of age-related concomitant diseases, often more than one at a time, and a basic decline in organ functioning over time. Risks associated with age in the plastic surgery population may be minimized by a better understanding of the physiologic changes as well as the preoperative and postoperative considerations in caring for this special group of patients. The purpose of this article is to review the changes that occur with aging and the nursing care implications necessary to minimize the associated risks with anesthesia and plastic surgery.