Question

When an anesthetized patient's position is changed from lithotomy to supine, the patient's legs should be lowered slowly to prevent which of the following?

A. hypotension
B. laryngospasm
C. respiratory distress
D. peroneal nerve damage

Answer 1

When transitioning an anesthetized patient from lithotomy to supine position, the legs should be lowered slowly to prevent hypotension, which can occur due to a sudden shift in blood volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an anesthetized patient's position is changed from lithotomy to supine, the patient's legs should be lowered slowly to prevent hypotension. This precautions is necessary because when a patient is in the lithotomy position for a procedure under general anesthesia, there is a risk that blood can accumulate in the lower extremities due to gravity and decreased muscle tone. Rapidly moving to a supine position can cause a rapid shift in blood volume, leading to a decrease in venous return to the heart and a subsequent drop in blood pressure, known as orthostatic or postural hypotension. Slowly lowering the legs allows for gradual readjustment of the blood circulation and helps avoid this complication.

Answer 2

When moving an anesthetized patient from lithotomy to supine position, legs must be lowered slowly to avoid hypotension caused by blood pooling in the legs, which could lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an anesthetized patient's position is changed from lithotomy to supine, the patient's legs should be lowered slowly to prevent hypotension. This is because of the potential for blood pooling in the veins of the lower extremities due to the effects of anesthesia and the position, which can lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure when the legs are lowered. Rapidly changing positions may disrupt the blood flow returning to the heart, leading to a decrease in cardiac output and resulting in hypotension. Laryngospasm, respiratory distress, and peroneal nerve damage are not directly related to the change in position from lithotomy to supine.