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Chapter 27 - Fundamentals of Patient Positioning for Surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2022

By
Sarah Brady
Edited by
Daniel Rodger ,
Kevin Henshaw ,
Paul Rawling  and
Scott Miller
Daniel Rodger
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, London South Bank University
Kevin Henshaw
Affiliation:
Associate Head of Allied Health Professions, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Paul Rawling
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Scott Miller
Affiliation:
Consultant Anaesthetist, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust
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Summary

This chapter explains the aims of patient positioning and the complications that can arise from incorrectly positioning patients as well as the physiological changes different positions can cause. The correct positioning and alignment of limbs for surgical procedures is vital, and all perioperative practitioners should understand their role and responsibility for safe patient positioning, and the rationale for it. Safe patient positioning is always a multidisciplinary team effort, whereby all members of the perioperative team should be present in the operating theatre at the crucial moment.

Keywords

PositioningPatient safetyPressure ulcersOperating tableSurgerySupineTrendelenburgProneLateralManual handling
Type
Chapter
Information
Fundamentals of Operating Department Practice , pp. 301 - 310
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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