Patient Positioning and Surgical Considerations

Abstract

It is a collaborative effort among all operating room personnel to ensure safety and well-being of the patient while providing optimal surgical exposure. Lateral positioning is the most common position for most thoracic surgeries. Proper assessment of patient positioning is of utmost importance to mitigate peripheral nerve injuries. Understanding physiologic changes with changes in position is prudent in treatment of hemodynamic changes. This chapter discusses numerous positionings to ensure surgical access that mitigate risks for neurological injuries such as damage to the ulnar nerve. In addition to lateral positioning, the authors examine the flexed lateral decubitus (kidney), supine, and lateral semiprone positions.