I focus on providing a transition from a totally anesthetized state to one requiring less acute interventions. Assessment centers on respiratory and cardiovascular systems and maintenance of a patent airway or continued ventilatory support. Postanesthesia Phase II focuses on caring for patients in a less structured environment or preparing them to care for themselves. Assessing The Immediate Postanesthesia Patient Before postoperative patients are transferred, receiving nurses need to know when they will arrive and what they will require, such as equipment for ventilatory support or monitoring. Upon transfer and after a thorough report from the anesthesia provider, nurses need to assess the patient's vital signs, oxygen saturation, and heart and breath sounds together so that any changes that occurred during transport can be identified immediately.
Skin color is a good indicator of perfusion status.
Evaluate fluid needs by assessing arterial blood pressure and heart rate and check for peripheral edema or jugular venous distention that might indicate fluid overload. During this time, when patients may act disoriented, delirious, uncooperative, combative, or uninhibited, it is important to protect both the patient and the healthcare worker from injury by having enough personnel on hand. 3 Hypothermic patients may need intravenous fluid warmers and intraoperative warming devices used postoperatively. Three concepts are integral to a comprehensive understanding of these methods and their effects on postoperative patients. Analgesia is defined as the lack of normal pain sensation.