stupid question?

[brownbook]

I am not sure why, or if, I need to know what or how much "local" the surgeon used for a procedure. The OR nurses almost always report to me, 10cc's of 1/2 % marcaine were injected. (This is just my vague, poor memory, I am not quoting exactly what type and amount of local they use). I just don't get its relevance? No harm in my knowing....but seems like number 28 on the list I'd like the OR nurse to tell me about the procedure or the patient.

We don't do orthopedic surgery so this is not related to nerve blocks or something along those lines. Just routine run of the mill hernias, laparoscopic procedures, biopsies, etc.

Or am I missing something? Should the local have some importance to my patient care that I am not aware of?

[meandragonbrett]

Not really. I wouldn't think it would need to be reported unless an abnormal/large amount was used to alert you to the potential for toxicity.

[originalred]

Missing a little. Have worked with surgeons that used no local... pt wakes up in pacu miserable.... use local= much less narcs needed. I would never use a doc that did not use local.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

The amount or type of local is less important than the site. It will affect the position of the patient, as local can migrate to other areas. For example, a brachial block may migrate to the diaphragm and cause diaphragmatic paralysis, which as you can understand, can be extremely problematic!