Question

46. Transmission-based precautions are used: a. When a patient is known or suspected to have a highly infectious disease b. When a staff member is known or suspected to have a highly infectious disease c. When a staff member has been exposed to HIV d. In emergency cases where the patient has not yet been identified 47. When using airborne transmission precautions: a. Staff members must wear masks at all times b. The patient must wear a mask at all times. c. The patient and health care provider must wear a mask during surgery d. The patient must wear a mask during transport. CASE STUDIES 1. Read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow. Mrs. X has been admitted to the hospital for a breast biopsy with possible mastec- tomy. She is brought to the operating room, anesthetized using general anesthe- sia, and positioned for the surgery. The assistant circulator performs the patient skin prep using 7096 alcohol lodophor paint. According to hospital policy, the extent of the prep must include the area required for a mastectomy-trom chin to pubis. The surgeon enters the room during the prep and after gowning and gloving begins the patient draping procedure. After incising the skin, the surgeon requests the electrosurgical hand place to coagulate a bleeding vessel. Within several seconds, the surgical site flares and the drapes are ignited. The fire spreads to the patient's abdomen in seconds. The scrub provides saline solution to put out the fire. The drapes are then removed to expose the extent of the injury. The patient sustains second-degree burns to 40 percent of her thorax and third-degree burns to her abdomen and pelvis. The operation is halted, and the burns are treated. The patient is taken to the ICU. a. What was the probable source of ignition? b. What was the fuel? c. What should have been done to prevent this accident? D 7 Environmental

Answer 1

Ans. a: In this case, the probable source of ignition is electrosurgical handpiece that is used to thermal destruction of tissue.

Ans. b: Fuel is any substance that burns and provide heat or energy. In this case, the 70% alcohol iodophor paint act as fuel.

Ans. c: The 70% alcohol iodophor paint is used as antibacterial before performing surgery. When a physician wants to remove tissue using an electrosurgical handpiece. The assistants should use aqueous antibacterials like povidone-iodine instead of alcohol-based antibacterials to avoid accidents like burning.