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Learn Basic Laparoscopic Surgery, the components of a laparoscopic surgical setup, optimal positioning and ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery, and much more. Check out the full course for free here: https://www.incision.care/free-trial
What is Laparoscopic Surgery:
Laparoscopic surgery describes procedures performed using one or multiple small incisions in the abdominal wall in contrast to the larger, normally singular incision of laparotomy. The technique is based around principles of minimally invasive surgery (or minimal access surgery): a large group of modern surgical procedures carried out by entering the body with the smallest possible damage to tissues. In abdominopelvic surgery, minimally invasive surgery is generally treated as synonymous with laparoscopic surgery as are procedures not technically within the peritoneal cavity, such as totally extraperitoneal hernia repair, or extending beyond the abdomen, such as thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy. The term laparoscopy is sometimes used interchangeably, although this is often reserved to describe a visual examination of the peritoneal cavity or the purely scopic component of a laparoscopic procedure. The colloquial keyhole surgery is common in non-medical usage.
Surgical Objective of Laparoscopic Surgery:
The objective of a laparoscopic approach is to minimize surgical trauma when operating on abdominal or pelvic structures. When correctly indicated and performed, this can result in smaller scars, reduced postoperative morbidity, shorter inpatient durations, and a faster return to normal activity. For a number of abdominopelvic procedures, a laparoscopic approach is now generally considered to be the gold-standard treatment option.
Definitions
Developments of Laparoscopic Surgery:
Following a number of smaller-scale applications of minimally invasive techniques to abdominopelvic surgery, laparoscopic surgery became a major part of general surgical practice with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the 1980s and the subsequent pioneering of endoscopic camera technology. This led to the widespread adoption of the technique by the early- to mid-1990s. The portfolio of procedures that can be performed laparoscopically has rapidly expanded with improvements in instruments, imaging, techniques and training — forming a central component of modern surgical practice and cross-specialty curricula [2]. Techniques such as laparoscopically assisted surgery and hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery have allowed the application of laparoscopic techniques to a greater variety of pathology. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and minilaparoscopy-assisted natural orifice surgery continue to push forward the applications of minimally invasive abdominopelvic techniques; however, the widespread practice and specific indications for these remain to be fully established. More recently, robotic surgery has been able to build on laparoscopic principles through developments in visualization, ergonomics, and instrumentation.
This Basic Laparoscopic Surgery Course Will Teach You:
- Abdominal access techniques and the different ways of establishing a pneumoperitoneum
- Principles of port placement and organization of the operative field
- Key elements of laparoscopic suturing, basic knotting and clip application
Specific attention is paid to the following hazards you may encounter:
- Fire hazard and thermal injury
- Lens fogging
- Contamination of insufflation system
- Complications from trocar introduction
- Limitations of Veress needle technique
- Limitations of open introduction technique
- Complications of the pneumoperitoneum
- Gas embolism
- Mirroring and scaling of instrument movements
- Firing clip applier without a loaded clip
The following tips are designed to improve your understanding and performance:
- Anatomy of a laparoscope
- Checking for optic fiber damage
- "White balance" of camera
- Checking integrity of electrosurgical insulation
- Access at Palmer's point
- Lifting abdominal wall before introduction
- Confirming position of Veress needle
- Umbilical anatomy
- Identification of inferior epigastric vessels under direct vision
- Translumination of superficial epigastric vessels
- Selection of trocar size
- Aiming of trocar
- Working angles in laparoscopic surgery
- Choice of suture material
- Instruments for suturing
- Optimal ergonomics for suturing
- Extracorporeal needle positioning
- Optimal suture lengths
- "Backloading" needle
- Intracorporeal needle positioning
- Hand movements when suturing
- Optimal positioning of scissors
- Extracorporeal knot tying
- Visualization of clip applier around target structure
- Common clip configurations
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common acquired heart disease in children in many countries of the world, especially in developing countries. The global burden of disease caused by rheumatic fever currently falls disproportionately on children living in the developing world, especially where poverty is widespread. RHD is a chronic heart condition caused by rheumatic fever that can be prevented and controlled. Rheumatic fever is caused by a preceding group A streptococcal (strep) infection. Treating strep throat with antibiotics can prevent rheumatic fever. Moreover, regular antibiotics (usually monthly injections) can prevent patients with rheumatic fever from contracting further strep infections and causing progression of valve damage. Consequences of rheumatic heart disease Acute rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart, joints and central nervous system. The major importance of acute rheumatic fever is its ability to cause fibrosis of heart valves, leading to crippling valvular heart disease, heart failure and death. The decline of rheumatic fever in developed countries is believed to be the result of improved living conditions and availability of antibiotics for treatment of group A streptococcal infection. Overcrowding, poor housing conditions, undernutrition and lack of access to healthcare play a role in the persistence of this disease in developing countries.
Bone marrow is the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones. It contains immature cells known as hematopoietic or blood-forming stem cells. (Hematopoietic stem cells are different from embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can develop into every type of cell in the body.) Hematopoietic stem cells divide to form more blood-forming stem cells, or they mature into one of three types of blood cells: white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen; and platelets, which help the blood to clot. Most hematopoietic stem cells are found in the bone marrow, but some cells, called peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), are found in the bloodstream. Blood in the umbilical cord also contains hematopoietic stem cells. Cells from any of these sources can be used in transplants.
What is Venipuncture? While venipuncture can refer to a variety of procedures, including the insertion of IV tubes into a vein for the direct application of medicine to the blood stream, in phlebotomy venipuncture refers primarily to using a needle to create a blood evacuation point. As a phlebotomist, you must be prepared to perform venipuncture procedures on adults, children, and even infants while maintaining a supportive demeanor and procedural accuracy. Using a variety of blood extraction tools, you must be prepared to respond to numerous complications in order to minimize the risk to the patient while still drawing a clean sample. In its entirety, venipuncture includes every step in a blood draw procedure—from patient identification to puncturing the vein to labeling the sample. Patient information, needle placement, and emotional environment all play a part in the collection of a blood sample, and it's the fine details that can mean the difference between a definite result and a false positive. After placing the tourniquet and finding the vein, it's time for the phlebotomist to make the complex choice on what procedure will best suit the specific situation. Keeping this in mind, it should be noted that the following information is not an instructional guide on how to perform these phlebotomy procedures. Rather, the information below is intended to serve as an educational resource to inform you of the equipment and procedures you will use. Venipuncture Technqiues Venipuncture with an Evacuated or Vacuum Tube: This is the standard procedure for venipuncture testing. Using a needle and sheath system, this procedure allows multiple sample tubes to be filled through a single puncture. This procedure is ideal for reducing trauma to patients. After drawing the blood, the phlebotomist must make sure the test stopper is correctly coded and doesn't contact exposed blood between samples. Venipuncture with a Butterfly Needle : This is a specialized procedure that utilizes a flexible, butterfly needle adaptor. A butterfly needle has two plastic wings (one on either side of the needle) and is connected to a flexible tube, which is then attached to a reservoir for the blood. Due to the small gauge of the needle and the flexibility of the tube, this procedure is used most often in pediatric care, where the patients tend to have smaller veins and are more likely to move around during the procedure. After being inserted into a vein at a shallow angle, the butterfly needle is held in place by the wings, which allow the phlebotomist to grasp the needle very close to the skin. Phlebotomists should be careful to watch for blood clots in the flexible tubing. Venipuncture with a Syringe: This technique is typically only used when there is a supply shortage, or when a technician thinks it is the appropriate method. It uses the classic needle, tube, and plunger system, operating in a similar manner to the vacuum tube but requiring multiple punctures for multiple samples. Additionally, after the blood is drawn it must be transferred to the appropriate vacuum tube for testing purposes. If you choose to use this method, remember to check for a sterile seal, and use a safety device when transferring the sample. Fingerstick (or Fingerprick): This procedure uses a medical lance to make a small incision in the upper capillaries of a patient's finger in order to collect a tiny blood sample. It is typically used to test glucose and insulin levels. When performing a Fingerstick, the phlebotomist should remember to lance the third or fourth finger on the non-dominant arm. Never lance the tip or the center of the finger pad; instead, lance perpendicular to the fingerprint lines. Heelstick (or Heelprick): Similar to the Fingerstick procedure, this process is used on infants under six months of age. A medical lance is used to create a small incision on the side of an infant's heel in order to collect small amounts of blood for screening. As with a Fingerstick, the incision should be made perpendicular to the heel lines, and it should be made far enough to the left or right side of the heel to avoid patient agitation. Before performing a Heelstick, the infant's heel should be warmed to about 42 degrees Celsius in order to stimulate capillary blood and gas flow. Therapeutic Phlebotomy: This involves the actual letting of blood in order to relieve chemical and pressure imbalances within the blood stream. Making use of a butterfly needle, this therapy provides a slow removal of up to one pint of blood. Though the blood removed is not used for blood transfusions, the procedure and concerns are the same as with routine blood donation. As with any phlebotomy procedure, one should pay close attention to the patient in order to prevent a blood overdraw. Bleeding Time: A simple diagnostic test that is used to determine abnormalities in blood clotting and platelet production. A shallow laceration is made, followed by sterile swabbing of the wound every 30 seconds until the bleeding stops. Average bleed times range between one and nine minutes. As a phlebotomist, you should familiarize yourself with the application and cross-application of these procedures in order to recognize when a procedure is necessary, and what the risks are for each.
This is an example of a surgery to fix a femur (thigh bone) fracture utilizing an intramedullary nail. This is a minimally invasive way of fixing this surgical problem and allows for immediate range of motion and full weight-bearing.
Patients are generally placed in a supine position with the head in an extended position. As noted above, Gardner-Wells tongs can be used for additional cervical traction. The hands can also be tied downward to increase the operative exposure. Once the surgical site is properly prepared with cleansing material, the appropriate surgical level is identified with intraoperative radiographs. A scalpel is used to make a linear longitudinal incision just medial to the body of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The incision is made long enough to include at least 2 vertebral levels if a 1-level discectomy is being performed. Alternatively, transverse skin incisions over the targeted vertebral level can also be performed. The platysmal muscle is identified and incised. The platysmal incision can be extended if a multilevel decompression is the surgical aim. Extensive subplatysmal dissection is performed to reduce retraction injury.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a prevalent threat to patient safety. Proper surgical hand scrub or rub techniques are essential to decreasing the incidence of SSIs. This video provides instructions on the anatomical surgical hand scrub procedure using the brushstroke method. Learn more from the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control (HEIC) at The Johns Hopkins Hospital: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic
Ganglion cysts are noncancerous lumps that most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of your wrists or hands. They also may occur in the ankles and feet. Ganglion cysts are typically round or oval and are filled with a jellylike fluid. Small ganglion cysts can be pea-sized, while larger ones can be around an inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. Ganglion cysts can be painful if they press on a nearby nerve. Their location can sometimes interfere with joint movement. If your ganglion cyst is causing you problems, your doctor may suggest trying to drain the cyst with a needle. Removing the cyst surgically also is an option. But if you have no symptoms, no treatment is necessary. In many cases, the cysts go away on their own.