This part focuses on the patient's return from surgery. Correct procedure.
A patient is shown vomiting saliva (reflex vomiting). This can be avoided. Warm blankets are shown being placed on the patient and his airways are checked. He is stretchered onto a trolley. Care must be taken that the arms or legs are correctly positioned. A porter and nurse return the patient to the ward. It is noted that the patient's breath must be monitored - they must know the difference between obstructed and unobstructed breathing. A female patient with shallow breathing is shown; the porter panics and goes to fetch help (the patient should never be left alone); the anaesthetist arrives with oxygen, although the narrator notes that correctly positioning the patient's jaw would have been helpful. Intertitle: Return to bed 2.
In the ward. The patient's bed is ready, the hospital staff move the patient onto the hospital bed, moving the blankets and hot water bottles as necessary. Head, pelvis and legs are supported. The hot water bottles are covered by a layer of blankets. Medical instruments are ready at the head of the bed. The nurse and sister observe the patient, taking note of the pulse. Depending on the nature of the operation (to the mouth, nose or throat), the patient may arrive sideways. The patient is shown being positioned in the bed and care should be taken with arms and legs in the transfer from the trolley to the bed. A pillow is used to stabilise the position. A bowl is positioned to catch blood from haemorrage or post-operative vomiting. Use of the gag is shown so that vomit is not inhaled. How to handle patients arriving with a mouth tube; this is removed only when the patient objects to it.
Then a restless patient, having been anaesthetised with barbiturates, is shown trying to get up, she is settled down by a nurse. It is noted that the average patient can be left for a few moments.
Source: Wellcome Trust 2009 , Wellcome ImagesAuthor: Hunter, Rosanne; Jeakins, A.E.; Baillie, Gwen.