This essay explains the how and the why of patient positioning describes the purpose of the main surgical positions and the physiological effects together with the anatomical complications of posture in the anaesthetized patient and how to protect the patient from these adverse effects.
Supine position, the patient is positioned flat on his back with his arms and hands straight on his side. Prone position, it is a position in which the dorsal surface of the patient is exposed and the ventral surface of the body against the supporting surface. Sitting position, here the patient's back is elevated towards the vertical things are flexed, legs are flexed on the things and feet are at the level of the heart. Head down and head up positions, here the supine positioned patient's head is tilted down to become below the horizontal plane with a variable amount of tilt anywhere from 1 to 45 degrees. Head-up position may be in supine or prone position. Lateral decubitus position, it describes a position in which the patient lies on his side. Lithotomy position, in this position the patient is the dorsal decubitus position with the buttocks at the enc of the operation table, the hips and knees are flexed and the thing abducted and externally rotated.
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