Theatre Notes

Date of surgery: 01/11/2024 File Number: NS-2024-00123 Patient Name: Sarah Jane Smith Date of birth: 15/05/1978 Age: 46 Patient's weight: 70 kg Patient's height: 165 cm Patient's BMI: 25.7 kg/m² Surgeon: Dr. Eleanor Vance Additional surgeon: Dr. Marcus Thorne Assistant: Nurse Rachel Green Anaesthesiologist: Dr. Alan Peterson Diagnosis: Brain tumour, unspecified (C71.9) Procedure: Craniotomy for tumour resection Rule J Motivation: 1. Patient experiencing progressive neurological deficits including hemiparesis and speech difficulties. 2. Imaging reveals rapidly growing lesion causing significant mass effect. 3. Conservative management has failed to halt symptom progression. Instrumentation: High-speed drill, CUSA Excel+ Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator, various micro-dissectors, bipolar cautery, Mayfield head clamp. Prophylactic antibiotics: Cefazolin 2g IV Start time: 08:30 AM End time: 01:45 PM Duration of surgery: 315 minutes Estimated blood loss: 350 ml Cell Saver: 150 ml reinfused Procedural steps: 1. Patient positioned supine with head in Mayfield clamp, secured and prepped. 2. curvilinear incision made in the right temporoparietal region. 3. Craniotomy performed with high-speed drill and bone flap elevated. 4. Dura incised in a cruciate fashion, reflected. 5. Intraoperative neuronavigation used to locate tumour boundaries. 6. Tumour identified and debulked using CUSA, followed by micro-dissection and bipolar cautery to achieve gross total resection. 7. Haemostasis secured. 8. Dura closed with 4-0 Nurolon sutures. 9. Bone flap replaced and secured with titanium plates and screws. 10. Muscle and fascia closed in layers, skin closed with staples. Complications: None reported intraoperatively. Postoperatively: Patient extubated in theatre, responsive to commands. Transferred to Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for close monitoring. Postoperative CT scan ordered to assess for any residual tumour or complications. Instructions include hourly neurological observations, strict fluid balance, and pain management with PCA.