Academic literature on the topic 'Post anesthesia nursing'

This study aimed to classify patients according to their degree of dependence on nursing care (Perroca Classification System) and correlate this with the anesthetic risk (American Society of Anesthesiologists - ASA classification) in a post-anesthesia care unit. A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 402 patients, mean age 51.57 (±16.73) years, of which 216 (54%) were female. The results indicate that patients had a degree of dependence between intermediate and semi-intensive with an ASA classification of between two and three. There was a significant relationship between degree of dependence and ASA classification. The results indicate that the post-anesthesia care unit admits patients with semi-intensive care requirements and with moderate anesthetic risk.

ABSTRACT Anesthetic management of post koch's kyphosis correction of 48 yr old female is discussed. The patient was under anesthesia for long duration of 15 hours which also included Wake up test. After surgery 3 months later patient went home walking. It is emphasized that with good team work between orthopedician, anesthesiologist, chest physician and nursing staff will make it possible to produce excellent outcome in these cases. How to cite this article Sreeram V, Waghalkar P, Atul W, Sarje D. Anesthesia Management of Prolonged Surgery with Duration of 15 Hours for Correction of Post Koch's Kyphosis. Res Inno in Anesth 2016;1(2):73-75.

Copy of author's previously published work inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 273-283). Aims to identify if the current practice of post-operative vital sign collection detects complications in the first 24 hours after the patient has returned to the general ward setting using a combination of methods within a triangulated approach to data collection.

Ineffective pain management in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) increases patients' risk of adverse effects including decreased mobility, infection, chronic pain, depression, cardiopulmonary complications, increased length of stay, insomnia, fatigue, and overall decrease in quality of life. The PACU in a community hospital did not provide an evidence-based pain management guideline for nurses treating postoperative patients, resulting in nurses' concerns about providing pain management. The purpose of this project was to translate evidence on pain management into an evidence-based guideline for improved nursing practice in a PACU. Evidence was obtained from a detailed literature search using multiple databases and professional organizations' guidelines. Nursing practice guidelines were developed and evaluated by 3 expert panelists using the Agree II guidelines. The panelists selected included; Two anesthesiologists, one who is trained in pain management and is also a pharmacist. The third expert is a practicing nurse practitioner in an acute setting who is also a surgical first assist and the associate director of robotics. The panel endorsed the guidelines for advancement through the hospital's review committees. Implementation of the evidence-based pain management guideline in the PACU might provide nurses with tools to guide their interventions and improve patient outcomes. Social changes resulting from the use of evidence-based pain management guidelines include decreased time to opiate administration, decreased adverse effects, improved assessment of pain, and an increase in the number of patients who receive proper pain management.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate, through clinical testing, the interrater reliability and concurrent validity of the Interchange of Gases Assessment Tool (IGAST) for monitoring the respiratory status of patients in the Postanesthesia Care Unit. The IGAST was used to assess the respiratory status of 20 patients over three time periods (60 data samples). Findings indicated that interrater reliability of the IGAST was acceptable for clinical use in the PACU. The IGAST received a mean interrater reliability rating of 98% in the PACU setting. Results of the mean dimension scores supported the patients' readiness for discharge. Chart audit revealed that the IGAST had concurrent validity since charted information and rated IGAST items were congruent. Further findings suggested that nurses using the IGAST document the respiratory status of patients more completely and more consistently than nurses using narrative documentation.

Postoperativ halssmärta (POST) är en mycket vanlig komplikation hos patienter som genomgått generell anestesi med intubation.  POST anses av anestesipersonal vara en relativt lindrig komplikation. Patienter upplever det dock som ett stort problem och därför bör det undvikas. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka vad anestesisjuksköterskor kan göra för att förebygga POST som komplikation hos patienter som genomgått generell anestesi med intubation. Examensarbetet är en integrativ litteraturstudie som innefattar tolv globala studier. Litteraturstudiens resultat visar att det finns flera farmakologiska och icke farmakologiska metoder som kan förebygga POST. Lokal behandling med kortikosteroider och NSAID-preparat har förebyggande effekt på POST. Icke farmakologiska interventioner som konformad kuff, substanser som lakritslösning, magnesium och zink lindrar. Vissa studier finner att kortikosteroider och lidokain kan öka förekomsten av POST. I nuläget kan resultatet inte tillämpas av anestesisjuksköterskor då resultaten är tvetydiga och inte kan utföras utan ordination av anestesiolog. Vidare forskning inom området med inriktning på omvårdnad är av yttersta vikt.

Tidigare forskning visar att patienter har olika behov postoperativt, det är sjuksköterskans uppgift att anpassa omvårdnaden till individen. Patienter har postoperativt ett extra stort behov av information. Sjuksköterskor och patienter har olika åsikter om vilka behov som ska tillgodoses först. Sjuksköterskan anser att kompetenta vårdgivare, smärtlindring och den behandling som vårdpersonal ger ska prioriteras först. Det viktigaste för patienterna var kompetenta vårdgivare, kommunikation samt god omvårdnad. Syftet med studien är att beskriva sjuksköterskans postoperativa omhändertagande av patienter som genomgått generell narkos och vårdas på kirurgavdelning. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats. Datamaterialet har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Sex sjuksköterskor intervjuades. Resultatet visar att information är en viktig aspekt i omhändertagandet, både när det gäller att informera patienter om vad som ska ske och vad som sker men också  information som patienten själv lämnar till sjuksköterskan om tillståndet. Det är även viktigt att det finns ett fungerande informationsutbyte mellan olika vårdgivare. Ett fungerande samarbete mellan vårdpersonalen och även mellan patient och sjuksköterska behövs för att det ska bli ett bra omhändertagande. Vården som ges ska anpassas efter varje individ och dennes behov. Slutligen anser sjuksköterskorna det vara av vikt att vara lyhörd för patienternas smärttillstånd.

Studies have shown that the care should be adapted to the individual patient. The postoperative patient has a special need for information. The postoperative needs are ranked different by nurses and patients. Nurses find that competent caregivers, pain relief and the treatment should be a high priority. Patients feel that competent caregivers, communication and a good care are the most important needs that they have in the postoperative setting. The aim of this study is to describe nurses postoperative care of patients who has undergone a general anesthesia and who is treated at surgical ward. The study has a qualitative approach. The data has been collected through semistructural interviews. Six nurses’ have been interviewed. This study shows that information is an important aspect in the patients care. It is important to inform the patient about what is going to happen and what has happened, the patient should also inform the nurse about their condition. There should also be a communication between the different caregivers. Is it also essential that the nurses are attentive to the patient’s pain. Collaboration between caregivers and between the nurse and patient is vital for a good care. The care should be adapted to the individual needs of the patients.

Esse estudo teve como objetivos identificar os diagnósticos de enfermagem presentes em pacientes em pós-operatório imediato de colecistectomia, submetidos à anestesia geral com base na Taxonomia II da North American Nursing Diagnoses Association (NANDA) e no Modelo Conceitual de Horta; analisar os diagnósticos de enfermagem presentes nesses pacientes em relação aos fatores relacionados, características definidoras e fatores de risco e em relação ao seu estabelecimento e resolução no pós-operatório imediato; dentre os pacientes estudados que apresentaram o Diagnóstico de Enfermagem de Dor aguda, identificar as manifestações de dor apresentadas no pós-operatório imediato e compará-las com as características definidoras apresentadas pela NANDA e por outras literaturas. Para a etapa de coleta de dados, foi elaborado e validado um instrumento de coleta de dados com base no Modelo Conceitual de Wanda Horta. Foram avaliados 15 pacientes adultos no período pós-operatório imediato de colecistectomia laparoscópica, durante o período de setembro de 2004 a janeiro de 2005, no Centro de Recuperação Pós-anestésica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Para o estabelecimento dos diagnósticos de enfermagem, utilizou-se um modelo de processo raciocínio diagnóstico, sendo esses nomeados de acordo com a Taxonomia II da NANDA. Foram identificados nove diferentes diagnósticos de enfermagem: Integridade tissular prejudicada (100%), Risco para infecção (100%), Percepção sensorial perturbada (100%), Risco para aspiração (100%), Risco para função respiratória alterada (80%), Hipotermia (60%), Risco para temperatura corporal desequilibrada (40%), Nutrição desequilibrada: mais do que as necessidades corporais (33,3%) e Dor aguda (26,7%). Para cada diagnóstico foram identificados e discutidos os fatores relacionados e características definidoras. Os pacientes que manifestaram o diagnóstico de enfermagem de Dor aguda apresentaram as seguintes características definidoras: relato verbal, evidência observada, expressão facial e comportamento de defesa. Observamos que todas essas manifestações são características definidoras apresentadas pela NANDA (2002) para esse diagnóstico. Em relação ao seu estabelecimento e resolução no pós-operatório imediato, os diagnósticos de enfermagem Risco para aspiração, Percepção sensorial perturbada e Hipotermia foram resolvidos em 50 minutos após a sua identificação. Para os diagnósticos de Risco para função respiratória alterada, Risco para temperatura corporal desequilibrada e Dor aguda, o tempo médio de resolução foi de 63,7, 77,5 e 36 minutos, respectivamente. Destacamos que os diagnósticos de Integridade tissular prejudicada, Risco para infecção e Nutrição desequilibrada: mais do que as necessidades corporais estiveram presentes desde a admissão do paciente no Centro de recuperação pós-anestésica até o momento da alta do paciente.
This study aimed to identify what nursing diagnoses are present in patients who had been submitted to general anesthesia during the immediate post-operative period after cholecystectomy, based on North American Nursing Diagnoses Association (NANDA) Taxonomy II and on Horta?s Conceptual Model; to analyze the nursing diagnoses that were present in these patients in terms of related factors, defining characteristics and risk factors, as well as with respect to their development and solution in the immediate post-operative period; to identify, among those study participants who presented the Nursing Diagnosis of Acute pain, the pain manifestations they presented during the immediate post-operative period and to compare them with the defining characteristics presented by NANDA and other literature sources. With a view to data collection, we elaborated and validated a data collection instrument on the basis of Wanda Horta?s Conceptual Model. 15 adult patients were evaluated in the immediate post-operative period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, between September 2004 and January 2005, at the Post-Anesthesia Recovery Center of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School Hospital das Clínicas. The nursing diagnoses were established by means of a diagnostic reasoning process model, and were named in accordance with NANDA Taxonomy II. We identified nine different nursing diagnoses: Impaired tissue integrity (100%), Risk for infection (100%), Sensory perception alterations (100%), Risk for aspiration (100%), Risk for altered respiratory function (80%), Hypothermia (60%), Risk for imbalanced body temperature (40%), Altered nutrition: more than body needs (33,3%) and Acute pain (26,7%). For each diagnosis, we identified and discussed the related factors and defining characteristics. Patients with the nursing diagnosis of Acute pain presented the following defining characteristics: verbal report, observed evidence, facial expression and defense behavior. We observe that all of these manifestations are defining characteristics NANDA (2002) presented for this diagnosis. With respect to their development and solution during the immediate post-operative period, the nursing diagnoses Risk for aspiration, Sensorial perception alterations and Hypothermia were solved within 50 minutes after their identification. For the diagnoses Risk for altered respiratory function, Risk for imbalanced body temperature and Acute pain, average solution time was 63.7, 77.5 and 36 minutes, respectively. We highlight that diagnoses of Impaired skin integrity, Risk for infection and Unbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements were present from the patient admission on Post anesthesia Care Unit until the patient?s discharge.

Acredita-se que a segurança do paciente na SRPA depende não só de equipamentos e recursos tecnológicos, mas de recursos humanos, que desenvolvam procedimentos e intervenções de enfermagem, pautados em conhecimento prático e científico, evitando, assim, a ocorrência de eventos adversos e complicações decorrentes da alta complexidade inerente ao processo anestésico-cirúrgico. Sendo assim, os objetivos desse estudo foram: caracterizar os pacientes em SRPA sociodemograficamente; identificar as complicações mais freqüentes; relacionar as complicações às intervenções de enfermagem realizadas; relacionar o esquema de jornada de trabalho dos enfermeiros às complicações. A amostra é composta por 400 prontuários de pacientes maiores de 18 anos, submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos de grande e médio porte, admitidos na unidade de SRPA, com tempo de permanência superior à uma hora. O teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov foi aplicado para testar a normalidade de variáveis quantitativas. O teste exato de Fisher-Freeman-Halton foi utilizado na comparação de proporções em tabelas de contingência maiores que 2x2. Todas as probabilidades de significância com valores de p<0,005 como estatisticamente significantes. Os resultados mostram que a maioria dos pacientes é do sexo masculino, com idade média de 53,3 anos (Dp=16,9 anos), com doença sistêmica leve ou moderada, sem limitação funcional. A comorbidade mais freqüente foi a hipertensão arterial sistêmica (40,7%). As cirurgias mais realizadas foram gerais (62,7%) que incluíram abdominais, urológicas, ginecológicas, e vasculares de grande porte. A anestesia, predominante, foi geral (92,2%). Tempo de permanência em média 111,6 minutos (Dp=67,8). As complicações mais freqüentes foram dor (54%) e hipotermia (43%). Algumas complicações apresentaram relação estatisticamente significante com relação à intervenção de enfermagem como dor e rotina(p<0,0001); dor e oxigenioterapia (p 0,0013); dor e medicação(p 0,0001) e dor e curativo (p<0,0005). Outra complicação que significante foi agitação/ansiedade com intervenção de enfermagem de rotina (p 0,0194) e agitação/ansiedade com oxigenioterapia (p 0,0099). A complicação hipotensão relacionou-se positivamente com a intervenção de enfermagem hidratação (p<0,0005); exames complementares ( p 0,0381) e observação(p 0,0141). A hipertensão apresentou-se estatisticamente significante somente com a relação à observação (p<0,0005). O tremor apresentou relação, significativa com a colocação de manta térmica (p 0,0171) e transfusão sangüínea (p 0,0445); náuseas e vômitos relacionaram-se com a intervenção rotina(p 0,0004), medicação(p<0,0001) e sondagem vesical de alívio(p 0,0224). O sangramento respondeu significantemente à intervenção de rotina (p 0,0064), medicação (p 0,0008) e curativos (p<0,0005). A hipoxemia foi, estatisticamente significante quando relacionada à rotina(p 0,0002) e a oxigenioterapia (p<0,0001). A hipotermia teve uma relação significativa com rotina (p<0,0001), manta térmica (p<0,0001), medicação (p<0,0001). Dor (p 0,0224), náuseas e vômitos (p 0,0131), agitação (p 0,0490) e sangramento (p 0,0001) são complicações que se relacionaram significativamente de forma positiva à jornada de trabalho quando se fixou um enfermeiro na SRPA
There is a believe that patient security at SRPA depends not only on equipments and technological resources, but from human resources that develop procedures and nursing interventions based on practical and scientific knowledge, avoiding adverse events occurrences and complications due to the high complexity inherent in the surgical-anesthesia process. So, the objectives of this study were: characterize SRPA patients socio-demographically; identify the most frequent complications; relate complications to nursing interventions proceeded; relate nurses working journey to complications. The sample is composed by 400 over 18 years old patients\' records, submitted to big/medium surgical procedures, admitted at SRPA unit, standing there for more then one hour. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test quantity variables normality. The Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test was used to compare the proportions on tables bigger then 2x2. All probabilities with significance values from p<0.005 were considered statistically significant. Results show that most of the patients are male, average age 53.3 years old (dP=16.9 years old), with light or moderate systemic ill without functional limitations. Most frequent comorbidity is systemic arterial hypertension (40.7%). Most frequent surgeries were general surgeries (62.7%) which included abdominal, urological, gynecological, and big vascular ones. General anesthesia was the predominant one (92.2%). Average staying time 111.6 minutes (dP=67.8). Most frequent complications were pain (54%) and hypodermis (43%). Some complications showed significant statistical relation between the nursing intervention such as pain and routine (p<0.0001); pain and oxigentherapy (p<0.0013); pain and medication (p<0.0001) and pain and curative (p<0.0005). Another significant complication was agitation/anxiety with a nursing routine intervention (p<0.0194) and agitation/anxiety with oxigentherapy (p<0.0099). Hypotension complication was positively related with the hydrate nursing intervention (p<0.0005); complementary tests (p<0.0381) and observation (p<0.0141). Hypertension was presented statistically significant just related to the observation (p<0.0005). Tremble presented significant relation with using a thermal blanket (p 0.0171) and blood transfusion (p 0.0445); sickness and vomit were related to routine intervention (p 0.0004), medication (p<0.0001) and relieve bladder poll (p 0.0224). Bleeding responded significantly to routine intervention (p 0.0064), medication (p 0.0008) and curatives (p<0.0005). Hypoxemia was statistically significant when related to routine (p 0.0002) and oxygentherapy (p<0.0001). Hypothermia was significantly related to routine (p<0.0001), thermal blanket (p<0.0001), medication (p<0.0001). Pain (p 0.0224), sickness and vomit (p 0.0131), agitation (p 0.0490) and bleeding (p 0.0001) are complications that are significantly positively related to working journey when a nurse was fixed at the SRPA

Este estudo tem como objetivos, identificar os fatores de risco de maior incidência no paciente idoso cirúrgico nos períodos pré-operatório e intra-operatório, identificar as complicações mais freqüentes no paciente idoso cirúrgico no período de recuperação pós-anestésica e relacionar as complicações mais freqüentes do paciente idoso cirúrgico no período de recuperação pós-anestésica aos fatores de risco de maior incidência do paciente idoso cirúrgico nos períodos pré-operatório e intra-operatório. A amostra foi constituído por 110 prontuários de pacientes idosos submetidos a cirurgia durante o ano 2004, que obedeciam os seguintes critérios de inclusão: idosos de ambos sexos, idosos submetidos a cirurgias eletivas, de emergência e urgência. Procedeu-se à coleta de dados, utilizando-se um formulário, a fim de contemplar os objetivos deste estudo. Os resultados mostraram que, 62 (56,4%) eram do sexo masculino; 63 (57,3%) pacientes estavam na faixa etária de 70 a 79 anos; 36 (32,7%) com hipertensão arterial sistêmica; 66 (60%) classificados como ASA II. Referente a fatores de risco relacionado ao período intraoperatório, em 69 (62,7%) pacientes o tempo de cirurgia foi inferior a três horas; 90 pacientes (81,8%) foram posicionados em decúbito dorsal horizontal na mesa cirúrgica; 59 pacientes (53,6%) foram submetidos à cirurgia abdominal e 56 (50,9%) idosos foram submetidos à anestesia geral. Quanto às complicações na sala de recuperação pós-anestésica: (55,5%) apresentaram hipotermia, 48 (43,6%) dor e 40 (36,4%) desenvolveram hipertensão arterial no período pós-operatório. De acordo com os resultados da análise de regressão logística, o sexo masculino e feminino apresentou associação estatisticamente significante com todas as complicações na sala recuperação pós-anestésica, evidenciou-se, maior associação entre os idosos de 70 a 79 anos com a apresentação de dispnéia (OR= 2,78) e idosos de 80 a 89 anos apresentou maior associação com taquicardia (OR= 1,40). Não se obteve associação entre os idosos com idade acima de 90 anos com as complicações investigadas. Quanto à hipertensão arterial, o estágio II obteve maior associação com bradicardia (OR= 8,01); assim como o escore ASA categorias II e III incrementam a possibilidade de apresentar hipertensão arterial no período de recuperação pós-anestésica (OR= 4,79; 10,71) respectivamente,. Em relação à associação entre as complicações mais freqüentes na recuperação pós-anestésica com os fatores de risco relacionados ao paciente cirúrgico idoso no período intra-operatório, o tempo de cirurgia superior a cinco horas teve maior associação com hipertensão arterial (OR = 6,49) quando comparado às cirurgias com duração entre 3 a 5 horas e inferior a 3 horas. A posição decúbito lateral apresentou maior associação com hipotermia, náusea, vômito e dor (OR = 6,68; 5,79; 3,12), respectivamente, quando comparado às posições decúbito dorsal horizontal e litotômica. Dentre os tipos de cirurgia, a artroplastia teve maior associação com náusea e vômito (OR = 7,64) seguida de redução de fratura com taquicardia e dor (OR = 3,71 e 2,05), respectivamente. Quando realizada a associação entre o tipo de anestesia e complicações na recuperação pós-anestésica ,a anestesia raquidiana apresentou maior associação com taquicardia (OR = 4,24), quando comparada à anestesia geral e peridural. Sendo assim, os pacientes idosos constituem-se em um desafio para a equipe de saúde em sala de recuperação pós-anestésica, os quais devem levar em conta a alta prevalência de doenças associadas e as alterações funcionais decorrentes do processo de envelhecimento
This study has as its goals to identify the most common risk factors for aging surgical patients in the pre-operatory and intra-operatory periods; to identify the most frequent complications in aging surgical patients in the post-anesthetic period; and make the relation between the most frequent complications in the post-anesthetic period for aging surgical patients with the most common risk factors in the pre-operatory and intra-operatory periods. The sample was comprised of 110 records of aging patients submitted to surgery during 2004, which complied with the following inclusion criteria: aging of both sex; aging submitted to elective, emergency and urgency. Data was gathered through a form that includes socio-demographic data, aspects related to the patient, aspects related to the intra-operatory period, and aspects related to the complications in the post-anesthetic recovery. The results showed that 62 (56.4%) patients were male; 63 (57.3%) were in the age group from 70 to 79 years old; 36 (32.7%) suffered from systemic artery hypertension; 66 (60%) classified as ASA II. Concerning the risk factors related to the intra-operatory period, in 69 (62.7%) patients surgery time was under three hours; 90 patients (81.8%) were positioned lying on the side on the operation table; 59 patients (53.6%) underwent abdominal surgery; and 56 (50.9%) patients had general anesthesia. In regards to complications in the post-anesthetic recovery room: (55.5%) experienced hypothermia, 48 (43.6%), pain, and 40 (36.4%) developed artery hypertension in the post-operatory period. According to the result of the logistics regression analysis, males and females showed statistically significant association with all the complications in the post-anesthetic recovery room; it was evidenced more association among the aged from 70 to 79 years old with dyspnea (OR= 2.78), while patients from 80 to 89 years old had more association with tachycardia (OR= 1.40). There was no association among patients older than 90 with the researched complications. Regarding artery hypertension, stage II got more association with bradycardia (OR= 8.01); as the ASA score categories II and III increase the possibility of presenting artery hypertension in the post-anesthetic recovery period (OR= 4.79; 10.71) respectively. Regarding the association between the most frequent complications in the post-anesthetic recovery with the risk factors related to aging surgery patients in the intra-operatory period, surgery time exceeding five hours had more association with artery hypertension (OR = 6.49) when compared with 3 to 5 hour-surgeries and less than 3-hour surgeries. The lateral decubitus position showed more association with hypothermia, nausea, vomiting and pain (OR = 6.68; 5.79; 3.12), respectively, when compared with the lying horizontally on the side and lithotomic positions. Among the types of surgeries, arthroplasty had more association with nausea and vomit (OR = 7.64), followed by fracture reduction with tachycardia and pain (OR = 3.71 and 2.05), respectively. When the association between the kind of anesthesia and complications in the post-anesthetic recovery is made, rachidian showed more association with tachycardia (OR = 4.24), when compared with general anesthesia and peridural. Thus aging patients in the post-anesthetic recovery period are a challenge for the health team, which must take into account the high prevalence of associated diseases and the functional alterations resulting from the aging process

Purpose/Background Direct laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation after induction of anesthesia can cause a reflex sympathetic surge of catecholamines caused by airway stimulation. This may cause hypertension, tachycardia, and arrhythmias. This reflex can be detrimental in patients with poor cardiac reserve and can be poorly tolerated and lead to adverse events such as myocardial ischemia. Fentanyl, a potent opioid, with a rapid onset and short duration of action is given during induction to block the sympathetic response. With a rise in the opioid crisis and finding ways to change the practice in medicine to use less opioids, dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, can decrease the release of norepinephrine, has analgesic properties, and can lower the heart rate. Methods In this scoping review, studies published between 2009 and 2021 that compared fentanyl and dexmedetomidine during general anesthesia induction and endotracheal intubation of surgical patients over the age of 18 were included. Full text, peer-reviewed studies in English were included with no limit on country of study. The outcomes included post-operative reviews of decrease in pain medication usage and hemodynamic stability. Studies that were included focused on hemodynamic variables such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and use of opioids post-surgery. Result Of 2,114 results from our search, 10 articles were selected based on multiple eligibility criteria of age greater than 18, patients undergoing endotracheal intubation after induction of general anesthesia, and required either a dose of dexmedetomidine or fentanyl to be given prior to intubation. Dexmedetomidine was shown to effectively attenuate the sympathetic surge during intubation over fentanyl. Dexmedetomidine showed a greater reduction in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure than fentanyl, causing better hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing elective surgery.Implications for Nursing Practice Findings during this scoping review indicate that dexmedetomidine is a safe and effective alternative to fentanyl during induction of general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation in attenuating the hemodynamic response. It is also a safe choice for opioid-free anesthesia.

Background/Purpose: Post-operative delirium leads to significant morbidity in elderly patients, yet there is no regimen to prevent POD. Opioid use in the elderly surgical population is of the most significant risk factors for developing POD. The purpose of this scoping review is to recognize that Dexmedetomidine mitigates cognitive dysfunction secondary to acute pain and the use of narcotic analgesia by decreasing the amount of norepinephrine (an excitatory neurotransmitter) released during times of stress. This mechanism of action also provides analgesia through decreased perception and modulation of pain. Methods: The authors developed eligibility criteria for inclusion of articles and performed a systematic search of several databases. Each of the authors initially selected five articles for inclusion in the scoping review. We created annotated literature tables for easy screening by co-authors. After reviewing the annotated literature table four articles were excluded, leaving 11 articles for inclusion in the scoping review. There were six level I meta-analysis/systematic reviews, four level II randomized clinical trials, and one level IV qualitative research article. Next, we created a data-charting form on Microsoft Word for extraction of data items and synthesis of results. Results: Two of the studies found no significant difference in POD between dexmedetomidine groups and control groups. The nine remaining studies noted decreases in the rate, duration, and risk of POD in the groups receiving dexmedetomidine either intraoperatively or postoperatively. Multiple studies found secondary benefits in addition to decreased POD, such as a reduction of tachycardia, hypertension, stroke, hypoxemia, and narcotic use. One study, however, found that the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia were increased among the elderly population. Implications for Nursing Practice: Surgery is a tremendous stressor in any age group, but especially the elderly population. It has been shown postoperative delirium occurs in 17-61% of major surgery procedures with 30-40% of the cases assumed to be preventable. Opioid administration in the elderly surgical population is one of the most significant risk factors for developing POD. With anesthesia practice already leaning towards opioid-free and opioid-limited anesthetic, the incorporation of dexmedetomidine could prove to be a valuable resource in both reducing opioid use and POD in the elderly surgical population. Although more research is needed, the current evidence is promising.