Article Type
Changed
Tue, 08/28/2018 - 11:04
Display Headline
Preventing postoperative neuropathies: Patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures

In this comprehensive educational video we review appropriate patient positioning for laparoscopic and robotic surgery to prevent postoperative neuropathies that can be experienced with gynecologic surgery. We also include a case-based review of injuries specific to the brachial plexus, ulnar nerve, and femoral nerve.

Our technique involves the use of a bed sheet, an egg crate foam mattress pad, and boot-type stirrups. We recommend setting up the operating room table to facilitate tucking of the patient’s arms and to prevent slippage of the patient when she is placed in steep Trendelenburg. For all steps involved, see the video.

Tips for setting up the operating room bed include: 

  • Use of a single bed sheet placed across the head of a bare table with an egg crate foam mattress pad over the sheet to prevent the need for strapping the patient to the bed or the use of shoulder braces to prevent slippage.
  • For low dorsal lithotomy positioning, flex the patient’s hips with a trunk-to-thigh angle of approximately 170°, and never more than 180°.
  • For arm tucking, remove the arm boards and excess egg crate foam from the patient’s side and placecushioning over the elbow and the wrist. Keep the patient’s hand pronated when tucking and do not allow the arm to hang over the side of the bed.
  • If the patient is obese, support the tucked arm by placing the arm boards beneath the arm parallel to the bed.

Next month we continue our series on surgical techniques with a video on why choosing the proper colpotomy cup is critical for successful minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Vidyard Video

Will you be joining me at the AAGL Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecology in Vancouver this November? Safe patient positioning for minimally invasive surgery and other exciting topics will be discussed. Visit www.aagl.org/globalcongress for more information.
—Dr. Arnold Advincula, AAGL 2014 Scientific Program Chair

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

Article PDF
Author and Disclosure Information

Dr. Jackson is Medical Director, Robotic Surgery, Baylor Medical Center, Garland, Texas.

Dr. Tran is Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Advincula is Professor and Vice Chair, Women’s Health, and Chief, Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center. He also serves on the OBG Management Board of Editors.

Ms. Wiercinski is Women’s Health Clinical Care Coordinator, Celebration Health, Celebration, Florida.

Mr. Lopez is Prinicipal, Video Source Imagery, Inc, Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Advincula reports being a consultant to Blue Endo, CooperSurgical, Intuitive Surgical, and SurgiQuest and receiving royalties from CooperSurgical. The other authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Issue
OBG Management - 26(9)
Publications
Topics
Page Number
57
Legacy Keywords
Arnold Advincula MD,Tiffany Jackson MD,Bich-Van Tran MD,Karen Wiercinski RN,Julio Lopez,preventing postoperative neuropathies,patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures,patient positioning,minimally invasive gynecologic surgery,MIGS,brachial plexus,ulnar nerve,femoral nerve,bed sheet,egg crate foam mattress pad,boot-type stirrups,operating room table,tucking patient's arms,steep Trendelenburg position,video,low dorsal lithotomy positioning,AAGL
Sections
Author and Disclosure Information

Dr. Jackson is Medical Director, Robotic Surgery, Baylor Medical Center, Garland, Texas.

Dr. Tran is Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Advincula is Professor and Vice Chair, Women’s Health, and Chief, Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center. He also serves on the OBG Management Board of Editors.

Ms. Wiercinski is Women’s Health Clinical Care Coordinator, Celebration Health, Celebration, Florida.

Mr. Lopez is Prinicipal, Video Source Imagery, Inc, Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Advincula reports being a consultant to Blue Endo, CooperSurgical, Intuitive Surgical, and SurgiQuest and receiving royalties from CooperSurgical. The other authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Author and Disclosure Information

Dr. Jackson is Medical Director, Robotic Surgery, Baylor Medical Center, Garland, Texas.

Dr. Tran is Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Advincula is Professor and Vice Chair, Women’s Health, and Chief, Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center. He also serves on the OBG Management Board of Editors.

Ms. Wiercinski is Women’s Health Clinical Care Coordinator, Celebration Health, Celebration, Florida.

Mr. Lopez is Prinicipal, Video Source Imagery, Inc, Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Advincula reports being a consultant to Blue Endo, CooperSurgical, Intuitive Surgical, and SurgiQuest and receiving royalties from CooperSurgical. The other authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Article PDF
Article PDF
Related Articles

In this comprehensive educational video we review appropriate patient positioning for laparoscopic and robotic surgery to prevent postoperative neuropathies that can be experienced with gynecologic surgery. We also include a case-based review of injuries specific to the brachial plexus, ulnar nerve, and femoral nerve.

Our technique involves the use of a bed sheet, an egg crate foam mattress pad, and boot-type stirrups. We recommend setting up the operating room table to facilitate tucking of the patient’s arms and to prevent slippage of the patient when she is placed in steep Trendelenburg. For all steps involved, see the video.

Tips for setting up the operating room bed include: 

  • Use of a single bed sheet placed across the head of a bare table with an egg crate foam mattress pad over the sheet to prevent the need for strapping the patient to the bed or the use of shoulder braces to prevent slippage.
  • For low dorsal lithotomy positioning, flex the patient’s hips with a trunk-to-thigh angle of approximately 170°, and never more than 180°.
  • For arm tucking, remove the arm boards and excess egg crate foam from the patient’s side and placecushioning over the elbow and the wrist. Keep the patient’s hand pronated when tucking and do not allow the arm to hang over the side of the bed.
  • If the patient is obese, support the tucked arm by placing the arm boards beneath the arm parallel to the bed.

Next month we continue our series on surgical techniques with a video on why choosing the proper colpotomy cup is critical for successful minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Vidyard Video

Will you be joining me at the AAGL Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecology in Vancouver this November? Safe patient positioning for minimally invasive surgery and other exciting topics will be discussed. Visit www.aagl.org/globalcongress for more information.
—Dr. Arnold Advincula, AAGL 2014 Scientific Program Chair

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

In this comprehensive educational video we review appropriate patient positioning for laparoscopic and robotic surgery to prevent postoperative neuropathies that can be experienced with gynecologic surgery. We also include a case-based review of injuries specific to the brachial plexus, ulnar nerve, and femoral nerve.

Our technique involves the use of a bed sheet, an egg crate foam mattress pad, and boot-type stirrups. We recommend setting up the operating room table to facilitate tucking of the patient’s arms and to prevent slippage of the patient when she is placed in steep Trendelenburg. For all steps involved, see the video.

Tips for setting up the operating room bed include: 

  • Use of a single bed sheet placed across the head of a bare table with an egg crate foam mattress pad over the sheet to prevent the need for strapping the patient to the bed or the use of shoulder braces to prevent slippage.
  • For low dorsal lithotomy positioning, flex the patient’s hips with a trunk-to-thigh angle of approximately 170°, and never more than 180°.
  • For arm tucking, remove the arm boards and excess egg crate foam from the patient’s side and placecushioning over the elbow and the wrist. Keep the patient’s hand pronated when tucking and do not allow the arm to hang over the side of the bed.
  • If the patient is obese, support the tucked arm by placing the arm boards beneath the arm parallel to the bed.

Next month we continue our series on surgical techniques with a video on why choosing the proper colpotomy cup is critical for successful minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Vidyard Video

Will you be joining me at the AAGL Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecology in Vancouver this November? Safe patient positioning for minimally invasive surgery and other exciting topics will be discussed. Visit www.aagl.org/globalcongress for more information.
—Dr. Arnold Advincula, AAGL 2014 Scientific Program Chair

Share your thoughts on this article! Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

Issue
OBG Management - 26(9)
Issue
OBG Management - 26(9)
Page Number
57
Page Number
57
Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Display Headline
Preventing postoperative neuropathies: Patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures
Display Headline
Preventing postoperative neuropathies: Patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures
Legacy Keywords
Arnold Advincula MD,Tiffany Jackson MD,Bich-Van Tran MD,Karen Wiercinski RN,Julio Lopez,preventing postoperative neuropathies,patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures,patient positioning,minimally invasive gynecologic surgery,MIGS,brachial plexus,ulnar nerve,femoral nerve,bed sheet,egg crate foam mattress pad,boot-type stirrups,operating room table,tucking patient's arms,steep Trendelenburg position,video,low dorsal lithotomy positioning,AAGL
Legacy Keywords
Arnold Advincula MD,Tiffany Jackson MD,Bich-Van Tran MD,Karen Wiercinski RN,Julio Lopez,preventing postoperative neuropathies,patient positioning for minimally invasive procedures,patient positioning,minimally invasive gynecologic surgery,MIGS,brachial plexus,ulnar nerve,femoral nerve,bed sheet,egg crate foam mattress pad,boot-type stirrups,operating room table,tucking patient's arms,steep Trendelenburg position,video,low dorsal lithotomy positioning,AAGL
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Alternative CME
Use ProPublica
Article PDF Media