Post Anesthesia Care Unit /

Post anesthesia care unit / PACU

In a post surgical environment where anesthesia is involved in the care of a patient, the role of the PACU is diverse and comprehensive. The PACU serves a variety of functions including patient assessment, pain management and post operative education. One of the most important roles perhaps of the PACU is to educate patients regarding post operative and anesthetic care prior to discharge (Sigsby, 2003). PACU staff must offer patients directed and clear information to ensure that patients have the ability to identify any potential problems and alert staff after procedures have been conducted (Sigsby, 2003).

Client safety in the post anesthesia environment depends on a number of factors including proper education and patient observation (Sigsby, 2003). Client assessment and nursing observations will include analysis of the patients overall condition to assess the effects of anesthesia that can be produced throughout the entire body; even small amounts of anesthesia can result in various degrees of analgesia, hypnosis and muscle relaxation (Tilton, 2003).

Complications can result from the use of any type of anesthesia, thus client assessment will include monitored care to determine the extent to which side effects are occurring from anesthetic administration (Evans, 2001). Proper assessment in the PACU requires that nurses work together with surgeons and the anesthesiologists to observe for problems in order to have the ability to provide rapid treatment and minimize any potentially devastating effects that might result from anesthesia (Tilton, 2003).

Various standards have been established with regard to PACU care to ensure that client safety is maintained and established. Patients transported to PACU for example are generally accompanied by members of the anesthesia care team, and the patient is subsequently evaluated and treated with support according to their overall condition; in addition, patients entering the PACU are re-evaluated, their status documented and information regarding their pre and post operative condition is transmitted to other staff so that the patient can be adequately monitored (Tilton, 2003).

Interventions that might be adopted by PACU staff include oxygenation, ventilation, circulation and temperature checks; in addition pulse oximetry might be used during the initial phases of recovery (Tilton, 2003). To further ensure client safety PACU staff will manage the patient's airway and provide oxygen, and record vital signs for communication of overall patient condition to the anesthesiologist (Tilton, 2003).

Other monitoring that might be conducted may include cardiac rhythms and blood pressure (Tilton, 2003). The utilization of such monitoring equipment and procedures will depend on the patient's health both pre and post operative, and the type of procedure the patient has undergone that facilitated use of anesthesia.