Final answer:
The stage before the surgeon makes an incision is the 'Time out' stage. This stage involves a final check by the surgical nurse and team, ensuring patient safety and readiness. The team confirms key details like antibiotics, identity, procedure, site marking, equipment readiness, and airway safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage just before the surgeon makes an incision is known as the Time out stage. During this stage, the surgical nurse, along with the rest of the team, which includes surgeons, anesthesia professionals, and other participating staff, performs a final verification procedure. This crucial step involves a collective oral confirmation of several details to ensure the patient's safety and readiness for the procedure. The team confirms:
- Prophylactic antibiotics administration within a suitable time frame, or notes that they are not indicated.
- Availability of essential imaging results for the correct patient in the operating room.
- The patient's identity, surgical site and procedure confirmation, marking of the site, and consent.
- Sponge, needle, and instrument counts are verified.
- The proper labeling of any specimens, if applicable, including the patient's name.
- Equipment functionality and readiness.
- That the pulse oximeter is appropriately placed on the patient and functioning.
- The recognition of any known allergies the patient has.
- The evaluation of the patient's airway and the availability of appropriate equipment and assistance.
This Time out stage is also the moment when nurses and anesthesia professionals review critical aspects regarding the patient's state under anesthesia, such as the relaxation of the tongue muscles which can obstruct the airway, and the usage of endotracheal intubation to maintain a secure airway.