The nurse interviews a patient scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for a hernia repair. Which information is most important to communicate to the surgeon and anesthesiologist before surgery?
a. The patient drinks 3 or 4 cups of coffee every morning before going to work.
b. The patient takes a baby aspirin daily but stopped taking aspirin 10 days ago.
c. The patient drank 4 ounces of apple juice 3 hours before coming to the hospital.
d. The patient's father died after receiving general anesthesia for abdominal surgery.
ANS: D
The information about the patient's father suggests that there may be a family history of malignant hyperthermia and that precautions may need to be taken to prevent this complication. Current research indicates that having clear liquids 3 hours before surgery does not increase the risk for aspiration in most patients. Patients are instructed to discontinue aspirin 1 to 2 weeks before surgery. The patient should be offered caffeinated beverages postoperatively to prevent a caffeine-withdrawal headache, but this does not have preoperative implications.
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