A 29-year-old man is admitted through the ambulatory surgery center for a microdiskectomy,one of several spinal surgeries performed to relieve pain caused by disk herniations.Select the appropriate criteria required for a patient to be considered a candidate for microdiskectomy as an ambulatory procedure.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Microdiskectomies have the flexibility of being performed either in an ambulatory surgery center or in a hospital OR suite.Ambulatory surgeries are designed for patients who have a nominal health history and pose minimal risk for operative complications.Patients selected for microdiskectomies typically complain of leg pain longer than 6 weeks in duration,and receive minimal relief from prescribed pain medications.An MRI scan confirming the level of nerve root compression as well as a detailed history and physical will determine if the patient is a candidate for surgery.The procedure is typically performed using a general or spinal anesthetic,depending on the needs of the patient.After the anesthesia provider has control of the airway,the patient is positioned prone for maximum operative accessibility.

A 29-Year-Old Man Is Admitted Through the Ambulatory Surgery Center