Spinal Anesthesia - a situation

[stormbeige]

Hi.. I have a situation...need help on this one.. thanks in advance..

Here it goes...

The client underwent stat CS and had spinal anesthesia. What assessment findings are important to obtain before the transfer of the patient from PACU to ward.

I have read that spinal anesthesia's side effects are: Headaches, low blood pressure, painful bladder, neurological damage.

so the nurse responsibilities are the following:

1. Monitor patient's level of consciousness.
   
2. Monitor vital signs of the patient as it causes low blood pressure
   
3. monitor for presence of painful bladder
   

aside from those three: What are other important assessment do i need to obtain for this situation. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks. :)

[itsmejuli]

pain assessment for headache

[jrsmrs]

Respiratory status is big after any kind of anesthesia. HR & BP must be watched very closely (probably every few minutes depending on policy) due to the risk of hemorrhage after the surgery (also checking flow to monitor). Also, possibly monitoring for return of feeling in the lower extremities, depending how long you have her there.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

can we say pulse ox?

[AggieNurse99, BSN, RN]

Um, monitor the incision site for a CSF leak? Neuro checks? Um, also how about routine postpartum? Peripad? Why did the pt have to have a stat CS? Anything there that needs checking?