Question

The preoperative phase encompasses which period of time?

1) Entry to the operating suite until admission to postanesthesia care
2) Entry into the operating suite until discharge from the hospital
3) The decision to have surgery until admission to postanesthesia care
4) The decision to have surgery until entry to the operating suite

Answer 1

The preoperative phase covers the time from the decision to have surgery until admission to postanesthesia care, involving evaluations, safety checks, and patient education by the surgical team.

Step-by-step explanation:

The preoperative phase refers to the period from when the decision to have surgery is made until the patient is taken into the operating suite. This phase includes a variety of preparatory steps that ensure the safety and readiness of the patient for the procedure. Activities in this phase may involve patient evaluations, discussions of the risks and benefits of the surgery, preoperative testing, and patient education about the surgery and postoperative care.

Significant preoperative protocols include a time out, during which the surgical team confirms patient identity, surgical site, and procedure, and reviews critical events predicted for the surgery. Team members, including the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, participate in safety checks like confirming that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered when necessary and ensuring that all necessary imaging results are displayed.

Thus, the correct answer to the student's question is option 3: The preoperative phase encompasses the period from the decision to have surgery until admission to postanesthesia care.