POVL Case Study Essay

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1. Please explain the five causes of POVL (postoperative vision loss) during prone surgery. POVL is not a common complication of nonopthalmic surgery but it can occur in one or both eyes. Vision loss after nonopthalmic surgery is generally related to five causes: Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), central retinal vein occlusion, cortical blindness, and glycine toxicity. Nagelhout (2014) further indicates that ION accounts for 89% of POVL after prone spinal procedures. Several devices are available to prevent POVL in the prone position to keep the head in the neutral position including three-point skull fixation, the horseshoe headrest, and foam cushions allow the head to be placed in a neutral position while the eyes are kept free of pressure. However, POVL has occurred despite the utilization of these devices (Nagelhout & Plaus, 2014). Reference: …show more content…

(2014). Nurse Anesthesia (5th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders. 2. Please explain the physiologic concepts surrounding composition of alveolar versus atmospheric gas. The composition of atmospheric gas includes almost all N2 and O2 which is different than alveolar gas. Alveolar gas includes more CO2 and H2O, and less O2. The physiologic concepts that explain this difference is because of: a. Humidification of air by conducting passages b. Gas exchanges between pulmonary blood and alveoli c. The mixing of alveolar gas that occurs with each breath i. Alveolar gas is a mixture of: 1. Newly inspired gases and 2. Gases remaining in the respiratory passages between

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