Post Surgical Atelectasis

Nurses General Nursing

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What effect will splinting have on a potential atelectasis

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

If by splinting, you mean using a pillow to counteract a cough, I can't imagine any ill effect. In fact, if splinting allows the patient to breathe/cough more effectively, it would certainly be a positive thing.

If by splinting, you mean an Ace wrap/cast, etc., not sure of that effect:coollook:

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Im sorry, I meant splinting like an abdominal wrap/dressing

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

This is basic nursing. Look it up.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

P.S. I seriously hope this is not something you should be looking up in your books. You should be doing your own homework.

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atelectasis prevention are basic nursing.

I was looking into if splinting post op creates a significant change to have a higher risk for atelectasis and I just wanted other peoples opinion on it.

Yes splinting does create a change in breathing pattern that can result in decreased lung expansion

just wanting to know if there is other take on it.

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If the lungs can't expand, then atelectasis will occur. It depends on the pt. as to how clinically significant that atelectasis will be. ie. is there pulmonary edema, pain, obeseity, COPD.....

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

Hi Jamina, welcome to allnurses! Don't be intimidated to ask questions! Most of us don't bite! I agree with the pp that if the wrap is too tight and the lungs can't expand than atelectasis can occur. I have heard patients complain that abdominal binders post op are too tight and that is the first thing that comes to my mind. If they are applied and positioned correctly they work well, but we have to be careful to teach the pt's how to use them properly!

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

If you can't get a deep breath you can't get air all the way to the bases of the lungs to expand them, often resulting in atelectasis and potentially pneumonia.

Tait

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

TCDB and IS Q1hr WA should help with this.

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Specializes in Obs & gynae theatres.
This is basic nursing. Look it up.

Nice welcome for the newbie there. :down:

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