What physiological effect is most likely to result from lithotomy position?
The two main complications of using the lithotomy position in surgery are acute compartment syndrome (ACS) and nerve injury. ACS happens when pressure increases within a specific area of your body. This increase in pressure disrupts blood flow, which can hurt the function of your surrounding tissues.
What are the anatomical risks in the lithotomy position?
The potential hazards to the patient in the lithotomy position are: skin breakdown, nerve damage, musculoskeletal injury (improper raising and lowering of the legs), and circulatory compromise. The patient may also experience hypotension if the legs are raised or lowered too quickly. Lateral position.
What must be taken in consideration when a patient is placed in the lithotomy position?
Standard lithotomy position requires the patients’ legs to be separated from the midline into 30 to 45 degrees of abduction, with the hips flexed until the thighs are angled between 80 and 100 degrees.
What nerves can be damaged in lithotomy position?
As previously stated, the lithotomy position is associated with several lower extremity nerve injuries, including the common peroneal, lateral femoral cutaneous, femoral, and sciatic nerves.
What is exaggerated lithotomy?
The exaggerated lithotomy position is used during radical perineal prostatectomy to increase perineal exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the exaggerated lithotomy position on respiratory mechanics and arterial blood gases.
Why does lithotomy cause compartment syndrome?
It has been shown that placing legs in the lithotomy position in an anaesthetised patient causes a decrease in blood pressure in the lower limb and a rise in the compartment pressure. Compartment syndrome is attributable to prolonged impairment of lower limb perfusion secondary to a rise in compartment pressure.
How do you treat peroneal nerve damage?
Treatment of Common Peroneal Nerve Entrapment begins with rest, splinting the ankle in the neutral position, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling and inflammation, diet and exercise in obese patients, and strict glucose control in diabetics.
Can a patient’s lung function be compromised while in the lithotomy position?
Although radical perineal prostatectomy is associated with the advantages of decreased blood loss, minimised surgical stress and smoother postoperative recovery when compared with radical retropubic prostatectomy [3], the exaggerated lithotomy position clearly could compromise respiratory function.
What nerve is most commonly injured by lithotomy?
Lithotomy position: Nerve Injury. Definition. Most commonly injured lower extremity nerve in patients undergoing surgery in lithotomy position was the common peroneal nerve(L4-S2, represented 78% of nerve injuries in a study which looked retrospectively at 198,461 patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position).
What are the most common lower extremity neuropathies associated with lithotomy?
One series found that the most common lower extremity neuropathies associated with procedures in the lithotomy position were common peroneal (81%), sciatic (15%), and femoral (4%). 104 Other, less commonly injured nerves include the obturator and femoral cutaneous nerves.
What is the most commonly injured Lower Extremity Nerve in surgery?
Definition. Most commonly injured lower extremity nerve in patients undergoing surgery in lithotomy position was the common peroneal nerve (L4-S2, represented 78% of nerve injuries in a study which looked retrospectively at 198,461 patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position). Etiology: Is thought to be secondary to compression…
What are the symptoms of a peroneal nerve injury?
Injuries to the peroneal nerve can cause numbness, tingling, pain, weakness and a gait problem called foot drop. What You Need to Know. The branches of the common peroneal nerve innervate and control the muscles in the legs that lift the ankle and toes upward (dorsi flexion). Mild peroneal nerve injuries can cause numbness, tingling,