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11/1/23, 9:41 PM Patient Positioning in Surgery
Supine position
The supine position is frequently used on procedures involving
the anterior surface of the body (e.g., abdominal area, cardiac,
thoracic area). Special attention should be given to leg positio
ning, ensuring that the knees and joints are not overstretched.
The head and cervical spine should be relaxed. Careful arm pl
acement can prevent nerve damage.
Prone position
The prone position is often used for neurosurgery, in most nec
k and spine surgeries. Used during spine surgery, the thorax
must be placed on a pad with a large opening; this allows the
stomach and breast to follow the breath and reduces intra-abd
ominal pressure. It is important to ensure that the blood vessel
s in the groin are not compressed. Knees should be bent slight
ly and well-padded. The head should be positioned so that t
he cervical spine is neutral. Pillows with lateral cut-outs enable
easy access for anesthesia tubes.
Lateral position
A patient may be positioned in a Lateral position during the
back, colorectal, kidney, and hip surgeries. It's also commonly
used during thoracic and ENT surgeries, and neurosurgery. In
lateral positioning,the patient must be secured to prevent
rolling. Good padding for the legs and heels is recommended
to relieve stress. The patient can be positioned on the
motorized joints of the tabletop to give optimum access to the
thorax or kidney area. Best practice recommends using a
pillow that offers space for the ear.
Lithotomy position
This position is typically used for gynecology, colorectal,
urology, perineal, or pelvis procedures. This positioning
requires that the pelvis is positioned to prevent a hollow back
(lordosis) and to provide the largest possible supporting
surface of the calf in the knee crutch. The popliteal fossa and
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11/1/23, 9:41 PM Patient Positioning in Surgery
References
The following are the references and sources for this patient positioning study guide:
1. Ritchie, I. K. (2003). Positioning Patients for SurgeryBy Chris Servant & Shaun Purkiss Greenwich Medical Media
2. Miranda, A. B., Fogaça, A. R., Rizzetto, M., & Lopes, L. C. C. (2016). Surgical positioning: nursing care in the
3. Berman, A., Snyder, S. J., Levett-Jones, T., Dwyer, T., Hales, M., Harvey, N., … & Stanley, D. (2018). Kozier and
4.Rosdahl, C. B., & Kowalski, M. T. (Eds.). (2008). Textbook of basic nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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