A 59-year-old woman with a significant retinal tear close to the macula emerges from anesthesia in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)after a 4-hour pneumatic retinopexy with scleral buckling,posterior vitrectomy,and injection of a gas bubble to close and support the retinal tear.She will have to maintain a face-down head position for 7 to 10 days,followed by laser surgery or cryotherapy to seal the tear.As the patient prepares for discharge from the PACU,she informs the perioperative nurse that she has reserved a flight to Denver,Colorado in 3 weeks to visit friends and celebrate the end of her ophthalmic surgeries and survival of sustained face-down positioning during recovery.The nurse firmly informs her that she should cancel and delay her trip until the surgeon approves that type of travel.Which statement below justifies the nurse's response to the patient's vacation plans?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In pneumatic retinopexy,an intraocular injection of a bubble of air or therapeutic gases provides pressure against retinal breaks,allowing the detached retinal breaks to approximate the pigment epithelium.The intent of instilling a gas bubble is to sustain its size and hold the retina in place.Patient positioning after retinopexy is often face-down for several days to weeks but may include tilting the head to one side or the other as well.The head position is determined by the location of the retinal tear/hole.Adherence is often difficult because of physical and psychologic challenges.Patients are instructed to avoid air travel until the gas bubble is completely resolved or decreased to a level of 5% of the vitreous volume.Cabin pressurization in air travel will cause severe enlargement of the gas bubble with an increase in intraocular pressure and eye pain.Car or train travel to high elevations should also be avoided unless the change in altitude is done gradually.

A 59-Year-Old Woman with a Significant Retinal Tear Close to the Macula