Fundamentals of Nursing Q 312
A 64-year-old client scheduled for surgery with a general anesthetic refuses to remove a set of dentures prior to leaving the unit for the operating room. What would be the most appropriate intervention by the nurse?
A. Explain to the client that the dentures must come out as they may get lost or broken in the operating room.
B. Ask the client if there are second thoughts about having the procedure.
C. Notify the anesthesia department and the surgeon of the client’s refusal.
D. Ask the client if the preference would be to remove the dentures in the operating room receiving area.
Correct Answer: D. Ask the client if the preference would be to remove the dentures in the operating room receiving area.
Clients anticipating surgery may experience a variety of fears. This choice allows the client control over the situation and fosters the client’s sense of self-esteem and self-concept. Nurses need to allow patients the choice of what to do in relation to their dentures when going to the theatre, although the anesthetist must make the final decision of whether or not to remove them immediately before the anesthetic if they feel patient safety could be compromised.
Option A: According to a study, “There are no set national guidelines on how dentures should be managed during anesthesia, but it is known that leaving dentures in during bag-mask ventilation allows for a better seal during induction [when the anesthetic is being infused], and therefore many hospitals allow dentures to be removed immediately before intubation [when a tube is inserted into the airway to assist breathing]”.
Option B: The swallowing of dentures during general anesthesia is a significant problem for anesthesiologists. It is seen more often in patients with psychiatric disorders, mental retardation, alcoholism, or poor-quality dentures. It has become an important issue for anesthesiologists preoperatively due to the increase in the proportion of dentures associated with the prolongation of life.
Option C: The presence of any false teeth or dental plates should be clearly documented before and after any surgical procedure, with all members of the surgical team made aware of what is to be done with them, they add.