Bedside Procedures for General Surgeons: Part 1

This review focuses on six procedures that are commonly performed by general surgeons in the emergency department, critical care unit, and operating room. Although considered basic procedures, all have their own set of key steps that must be learned, practiced, and mastered. Included in the description for each procedure are technical points that are intended to facilitate successful performance of the procedures and pitfalls to avoid. The most frequent complications for each procedure are briefly discussed in an effort to raise awareness so that they can be recognized and managed expeditiously. Common to all of these procedures is a need to understand the indications based on a careful history, physical examination, and review of pertinent objective data. Whenever possible, informed consent should be obtained from the patient or family prior to the procedure and a complete surgical timeout performed. Sterile technique and personal protective gear/universal precautions should be employed whenever feasible. Finally, these patients should be followed postoperatively and appropriate follow-up studies and/or treatments arranged. This review contains 19 figures, 7 tables, and 33 references. Key words: central venous catheter, intraosseous vascular access, needle chest decompression, percutaneous arterial catheter, percutaneous tracheostomy, tracheostomy, venous cutdown