| Question | Answer |
| anesthesia: | a state of narcosis, analgesia, relaxation, and
loss of reflexes |
| anesthesiologist: | physician trained to deliver anesthesia
and to monitor the patient’s condition during surgery |
| anesthetic agent: | the substance, such as a chemical or
gas, used to induce anesthesia |
| anesthetist: | health care professional, such as a nurse
anesthetist, who is trained to deliver anesthesia and to
monitor the patient’s condition during surgery |
| circulating nurse (or circulator): | registered nurse who coordinates
and documents patient care in the operating
room |
| epidural anesthesia: | state of narcosis, analgesia, relaxation,
and loss of reflexes achieved by injecting an anesthetic
agent into the epidural space of the spinal cord |
| general anesthesia: | state of narcosis, analgesia,
relaxation, and loss of reflexes produced by pharmacologic
agents |
| local anesthesia: | injection of a solution containing the
anesthetic agent into the tissues at the planned incision
site |
| malignant hyperthermia:
(often inherited as N autosomal dominant disorder) (eventually leading to circulatory
collapse and death if untreated.) | rare life-threatening condition
triggered by exposure 2 most anesthetic agents inducing
a drastic N uncontrolled increase in skeletal muscle
oxidative metabolism. can overwhelm body’s
capacity 2 supply O2 remove CO2, N regulate body temp. |
| moderate sedation: | previously referred to as conscious
sedation, involves use of sedation to depress the level
of consciousness without altering the patient’s ability to
maintain a patent airway and to respond to physical
stimuli and verbal commands |
| monitored anesthesia care: | moderate sedation administered
by an anesthesiologist or anesthetist |
| regional anesthesia: | an anesthetic agent is injected around
nerves so that the area supplied by these nerves is anesthetized |
| restricted zone: | area in the operating room where scrub
attire and surgical masks are required; includes operating
room and sterile core areas |
| scrub role: | gistered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or
surgical technologist who scrubs and dons sterile surgical
attire, prepares instruments and supplies, and hands
instruments to the surgeon during the procedure |
| semirestricted zone: | area in the operating room where
scrub attire is required; may include areas where surgical
instruments are processed |
| spinal anesthesia: | achieved when a local anesthetic agent
is introduced into the subarachnoid space of the spinal
cord |
| surgical asepsis: | absence of microorganisms in the surgical
environment to reduce the risk for infection |
| unrestricted zone: | area in the operating room that
interfaces with other departments; includes patient reception
area and holding area |
