POST OPERATIVE PROBLEMS IN ORTOPEDICS PATIENTS IN THE RECOVERY ROOM

Abstract

This study aimed at providing related problems in patients who had undergone orthopedic surgery through theevaluation of the following variables: sex, age, surgery type and anesthesia type. Two hundred and twenty patientswere studied. They had been submitted to an elective orthopedic surgical procedure from July to December 1998and their medical records were used for retrospective data collection. With regard to sex, 58% were males and42% were females. As to age, middle-aged patients - 35 to 65 years old - comprised 48%, young adults - 18 to 35years old - were 38% and elderly adults - over 66 years old - were 14%. The frequency of results were as follows:surgery on the upper limbs/shoulder, 27%, knee/leg, 32%, spinal cord, 17%, femur/hips, 15%, ankle/foot, 9%,regional anesthesia, 48%, general anesthesia, 38%, regional associated with general, 6% and blocking, 8%.Occurred 306 post-operative problems were observed as follows: pain, 45%, nausea/vomiting, 16%, blooding,11%, cardiovascular alterations, 10%, hypothermia, 9%, urinary retention, 5%, respiratory problems, 1% andhiperthermia, 0,6%. In this way, there was an attempt at making a profile of orthopedic surgery patients in POI as asource of data for planning nursing care. It is believed that the study has contributed to nursing care in postanesthesiarecovery room which is based on scientific data and not only on every-day practice.

Keywords

• recovery room
• immediate postoperative
• surgical nursing.