Case 50: A Most Important Lesson

Abstract

A 56-year-old woman (72 kg, 5 ft 10 in.) is scheduled for laparoscopic hysterectomy. She is classified as an ASA 1 and has no allergies. Her only medication is vitamins. General anesthesia is induced in a routine manner. You have a grade 1 view on laryngoscopy and pass a #7 endotracheal tube (ETT) without any problem. The ETT cuff is inflated. There is mist in the ETT and you see end-tidal CO₂. You confirm bilateral air entry. The ETT is secured at 22 cm at the lip. A temperature probe is placed in the esophagus and an upper body Bair Hugger is placed on the patient. The nurse inserts a urinary catheter. She hands you the urine catheter bag (Bard Criticore collection container, CR Bard Inc., Covington, GA 30014) and you place it in the Criticore (Fluid output and temperature monitor, CR Bard Inc., Covington, GA 30014). The surgeon has not come into the room. You are waiting for her to tell you what antibiotic she wants.