It is no secret that health care has changed, and we must change with it. As equipment and drugs become more sophisticated, surgical procedures are becoming less complicated to perform, and patients are experiencing less morbidity and mortality. Industry is continually addressing the product needs of surgeons who are or will be performing office laparoscopy under local anesthesia so that it can be done with the greatest of ease and safety. Therefore, the environment in which surgical procedures are performed should become less technically complicated as well. As hospitals are downsizing and more and more procedures are moving into outpatient and office settings, there is a tremendous opportunity for nurses to assume the challenge of OLULA and expand their horizons in a new direction. There is no better time for nurses to use the professional skills they were educated for, that is, to provide continuous bedside nursing care for patients undergoing office laparoscopy under local anesthesia while maintaining the perioperative skills that they have grown to love. For more information about office laparoscopy, contact the American Association of Office Endoscopy, 3088 Rosa Parks Avenue, Montgomery, AL, 36105. Telephone: (334) 262-0259.
Autologous collagen has been proven to be an effective, longer-term collagen filler for cosmetic imperfections. For those who cannot afford surgery, this is an excellent alternative therapy. Safety is not a major concern and the patient can be reassured that this autologous preparation has less chance of causing untoward effects than other biological materials used for the same procedures. Ongoing investigations of this product and new applications discovered may continue to provide safe, relatively inexpensive methods, for cosmetic improvement.
With advances in laparoscopy, GERD is usually treatable without the need for lifelong medication. Patients may return home free from symptoms of GERD and off medications permanently. LNF has proven to be safe and effective when performed by a surgeon who is skilled in advanced laparoscopic procedures and esophageal anatomy. Utilization of the team approach is critical in managing these patients. From preoperative testing to postoperative follow-up care, nurses play key roles in the management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux.
