Supine position

Patient on back with face toward ceiling

Legs uncrossed; arms at sides or on arm boards.

Uses:

– Administration of general anesthesia

– Abdominal surgery

– Open heart surgery

– Surgery on face, neck, or mouth

– Most surgery on extremities

tTrendelenberg position

In the Trendelenburg position the body is laid flat on the back (supine position) with the feet higher than
the head, in contrast to the reverse Trendelenburg position, where the body is tilted in the opposite
direction. This is a standard position used in abdominal and gynecological surgery. It allows better access
to the pelvic organs as gravity pulls the intestines away from the pelvis. It was named after the German
surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg.[1]

Reverse trendelenberg position

Head raised and the foot lowered. Straight tilt in direction opposite to trendelenberg.

supine position without flexing or extending, in which the head is higher than the feet.

Use: to promote stomach emptying and prevent esophageal reflex in client with hiatal hernia.
 Lateral position

Patient begins in supine position.

Rolled onto side - operative side up.

Bottom leg flexed; top leg straight.

Bottom arm on armboard, top arm on special arm support or pillow.

Head supported in alignment with body

Uses:

– Surgery of the chest or lungs.

– Surgery on the kidney.

– Hip surgery.

Prone position

Patient begins in supine position, log-rolled onto abdomen after anesthetized.

Arms at sides or on arm boards.

Uses:

– Surgery on the back or spine.

Surgery on the back of the legs

Sims position

Sims' position
Etymology: James M. Sims, American gynecologist, 1813-1883
a position in which the patient lies on the side with the knee and thigh drawn upward toward the chest.
The chest and abdomen are allowed to fall forward. Left Sims' is the position of choice for administering
enemas or conducting rectal examinations. Also called semiprone side position.

Fowler position

In medicine, the Fowler position is a standard patient position. It is used to relax tension of the abdominal
muscles, allowing for improved breathing in immobile patients, and to increase comfort during eating and
other activities. It is also used in postpartum women to improve uterine drainage. The patient is placed in
a semi-upright sitting position (45-60 degrees) and may have knees either bent or straight.
There are several types of Fowlers positions: Low, Semi-, and High Fowler's. High Fowler's position is
when the patient's head is raised 80-90 degrees, whereas semi-Fowler's position is when the patient's
head is elevated 30-45 degrees.

Lithotomy

The lithotomy position affords physicians and surgeons with easy and helpful access to the perineal
region, lower abdomen, and pelvis and is widely used in both surgery and examinations. Of all the
medical uses, the lithotomy position, whose ancient roots come from the treatment of the painfully ill, has
logically received the most scrutiny of late in association with childbirth, the only condition listed herein
that is not an "illness".
Patient begins in supine position.
Legs lifted simultaneously into high or low stirrups.

Arms usually on armboards.

Uses:

– GYN surgery.

– GU surgery
 Knee chest position

Knee-chest position n.
A prone position in which the individual rests on the knees and upper part of the chest, assumed for
gynecologic or rectal examination. Also called genupectoral position.

Beach chair position

Despite its low incidence, intraoperative stroke associated with shoulder surgery, particularly in healthy
patients at no risk for stroke, is a totally unexpected and devastating complication. Patients in the beach
chair position are at risk for an intraoperative stroke if borderline low BPs, as measured in the arm, are
used without appreciating the effect on CPP and CBF. Because of the specific physiologic changes
associated with the sitting position, great care should be applied when using and interpreting BP cuff
measurements in the nonoperative arm or, even more so, if leg measurements of BP must be used.
Blood pressure values <80% of preoperative resting values should be treated aggressively to enhance
the margin of safety. Deliberate hypotension must be avoided. A thorough understanding of the
physiologic changes associated with the upright position, and the physical effects of gravity on BP in the
brain is crucial to prevent catastrophic neurologic outcome during shoulder surgery in the sitting position.

Kraske (jacknife) position

Kraske position
[kras′kə]
Etymology: Paul Kraske, Swiss surgeon, 1851-1930
an anatomic position in which the patient is prone, with hips flexed and elevated, head and feet down.
The position is used for renal surgery, as it enlarges the costovertebral angle, allowing the surgeon to
have optimal access to the kidneys.
Medical and surgical
nursing
Surgical positions

Cherry lou d. merciales

Batch 5

September 18, 2009

Clinical instructor

Mr. Iancid c. descallar