What is the dorsal Lithotomy position?

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Lithotomy position: Position in which the patient is on their back with the hips and knees flexed and the thighs apart. The position is often used for vaginal examinations and childbirth.



Also, what is dorsal Lithotomy?

The lithotomy position is often used during childbirth and surgery in the pelvic area. It involves lying on your back with your legs flexed 90 degrees at your hips. The position is named for its connection with lithotomy, a procedure to remove bladder stones.

Secondly, why is Lithotomy position bad? The combination of a lower arterial pressure and elevated compartment pressure potentially lead to ischemia of the lower extremity musculature and soft tissue. Of all standard surgical positions, lithotomy, followed by the lateral decubitus position, puts the patient at the greatest risk for compartment syndrome.

Also asked, what is the dorsal position?

The dorsal recumbent position is a position in which an individual (usually a patient) lies on their back with their knees bent up in an outward position while their feet are planted flat on the ground, a bed, table or resting platform allowing the pelvic area to be easily examined and observed.

What nerves can be damaged in Lithotomy position?

Neurologic injuries related to the lithotomy position may affect the femoral, sciatic, and common peroneal nerves. One series found that the most common lower extremity neuropathies associated with procedures in the lithotomy position were common peroneal (81%), sciatic (15%), and femoral (4%).

30 Related Question Answers Found

What is the purpose of Lithotomy position?

Reviewed on 12/21/2018. Lithotomy position: Position in which the patient is on their back with the hips and knees flexed and the thighs apart. The position is often used for vaginal examinations and childbirth.

What is the jackknife position used for?

Jackknife position, also known as Kraske, is similar to Knee-Chest or Kneeling positions and is often used for colorectal surgeries. This position places extreme pressure on the knees. While positioning, surgical staff should place extra padding for the knee area.

What is the most common surgical position?

The most common surgical positions are supine, Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, prone, lithotomy, sitting and lateral positions.

What are the anatomical risks in the Lithotomy position?

The potential hazards to the patient in the lithotomy position are: skin breakdown, nerve damage, musculoskeletal injury (improper raising and lowering of the legs), and circulatory compromise.

What is a Lithotomy procedure?


Lithotomy from Greek for "lithos" (stone) and "tomos" (cut), is a surgical method for removal of calculi, stones formed inside certain organs, such as the kidneys (kidney stones), bladder (bladder stones), and gallbladder (gallstones), that cannot exit naturally through the urinary system or biliary tract.

What is Orthopneic position?

orthopneic position a position assumed to relieve orthopnea (difficulty breathing except when in an upright position); the patient assumes an upright or semivertical position by using pillows to support the head and chest, or sits upright in a chair.

What are the procedures for proper positioning?

Patient lies on the side of the body with the top leg over the bottom leg. This position helps relieve pressure on the coccyx. Patient lies between supine and prone with legs flexed in front of the patient. Arms should be comfortably placed beside the patient, not underneath.

What is lateral position?

Lateral- This position involves the patient lying on either her right or left side. Right lateral means the patient's right side is touching the bed, while left lateral means the patient's left side is touching the bed. A pillow is often placed in between the legs for patient comfort.

What is the opposite of supine in medical terms?

Regarding body positioning, prone generally means lying face down, supine means lying face up, and prostrate means stretched out lying flat, often submissively.

What is the medical term for lying down?


Supine: lying on the back on the ground with the face up. Prone: lying on the chest with the face down ("lying down" or "going prone"). See also "Prostration". Lying on either side, with the body straight or bent/curled forward or backward.

What is the medical term for sitting up?

In medicine, Fowler's position is a standard patient position in which the patient is seated in a semi-sitting position (45-60 degrees) and may have knees either bent or straight. In immobile patients and infants, the Fowler's position alleviates compression of the chest that occurs due to gravity.

What is side lying position used for?

A lateral recumbent position in which the individual rests on the right or left side, usually with the knees slightly flexed. This position may be used in persons with mild forms of sleep apnea, in some patients with dysphagia, and in patients predisposed to sacral decubitus ulcers, among other conditions.

Why is anatomical position important?

The anatomical position is of importance in anatomy because it is the position of reference for anatomical nomenclature. Anatomic terms such as anterior and posterior, medial and lateral, abduction and adduction, and so on apply to the body when it is in the anatomical position.

Is the anatomical position lying down?

Anatomical position is a standard position that serves as a reference for the body. Additionally, the terms supine and prone are used to describe a body that is lying down. Supine refers to a body lying on its back (face up), while prone refers to a body lying on its belly (face down).

What are the medical terms for positions?


The four main anatomical positions are: supine, prone, right lateral recumbent, and left lateral recumbent. Each position is used in different medical circumstances.

What is dorsal view?

Dorsal. Dorsal means the upper surface of an organism. For example, the dorsal view of a butterfly would be viewing the insect from above: Insects within a reference collection are commonly mounted so that their dorsal surface is visible.

What is Genupectoral position?

genupectoral position (knee-chest position) (jen-yoo-pek-ter-ăl) n. the position of a patient in which the weight of the body is supported on the knees and chest.