Even in the last century, when medicine was just picking up the pace of its development, doctors began to develop options for various positions of the patient on the operating table. This was necessary to improve the visibility of internal organs during surgical interventions. The German surgeon and gynecologist came up with a pose (which was named after him) for performing operations on the pelvic organs. In the article, we will consider what it is - the Trendelenburg position.
Previously, during gynecological operations, access to the internal genital organs in the pelvis was quite difficult. From above, they give in to the pressure of the intestines and omentum. The uterus has low mobility. This did not allow surgeons to fully carry out the intervention. Therefore, for more comfortable access, a new placement of the patient on the operating table was invented.
What is this - Trendelenburg position? This is a special position of the patient lying on his back, in which the operating table is tilted 45 degrees so that the patient's pelvis is above the head. Giventhe position allows you to maximize the release of the internal genital organs from the pressure of the omentum and intestines, as they depart into the upper abdominal cavity. To prevent patients from slipping down, they are placed with legs half-bent at the knees, which are fixed in two places: near the ankle joints and above the cup. Doctors also use padded shoulder pads.
When is this provision used?
Doctors put the patient in this position in strictly defined cases.
The list of them is as follows:
- Surgical intervention on the rectum, during gynecological and urological operations.
- On fluoroscopy of the esophagus and stomach.
- Dramatic drop in blood pressure.
Trendelenburg fluoroscopy is used to examine the esophagus and stomach. A contrast agent, which is injected into the patient through the mouth, allows you to more accurately recognize diaphragmatic hernia, changes in the lining of the stomach and ulcers.
Contraindications
There are such pathologies of the human body in which the use of the Trendelenburg position is not recommended.
This list includes the following diseases:
- Ascites.
- Purulent and bloody discharge.
- Cysts in the ovaries.
- Impaired breathing.
- Sclerosis of cerebral vessels.
- Heart failure.
Thanks to the German surgeon Tredelenburg, it has become more convenient for doctors to perform operations on the pelvic organs.
