POST OP Positioning

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I got different answers from different sources, both very credible. One is saying on affected side, the other saying on unaffected side. I got very confused about post op positioning for pneumonectomy and lobectomy. anyways, thanks for listening and for your feedback! goodluck nurses!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

You're probably getting different answers because the answer is different for lobectomy and pneumonectomy.

For a lobectomy or wedge resection, the patient can be turned on either side, and should be repositioned from side-back-side regularly. This facilitates ventilation and lung expansion.

After a complete pneumonectomy the patient is placed supine or on the operative side only. The reason for this is because the mediastinum (connective tissue and membranes that separate the lungs) isn't held in place by lung tissue. Placing the patient on the non-operative side could cause the mediastinum to compress the remaining lung or push/pull the vena cava, interfering with blood flow.

Source: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing, A Critical Care Approach, 6th edition. 2013.

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Thank you so much double helix for explaining! helped alot

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