CAPA (ABPANC) key terms

Recommended intervals of fasting from food and clear liquids before sedation or anesthesia, intended to empty the stomach and reduce the chance of vomiting and aspiration during the procedure.

A six-category scale (I through VI) describing a patient's overall health and anesthesia risk, used to guide preparation, monitoring, and the setting where care is safely delivered.

A structured review of the patient's medical, surgical, medication, and allergy history combined with a focused physical exam, done before the procedure to plan safe anesthesia and identify problems needing follow-up.

The patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, benefits, risks, and alternatives, documented before sedation or anesthesia begins.

A four-class visual score based on how much of the throat and soft palate can be seen when the seated patient opens the mouth and protrudes the tongue, helping predict difficult intubation.

The process of obtaining a complete list of the patient's current medications, including over-the-counter products and supplements, and comparing it with new orders to prevent errors and interactions.

An eight-item screening tool that scores snoring, daytime tiredness, observed apnea, high blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck circumference, and gender to estimate obstructive sleep apnea risk.

An inherited trait that places a patient at risk for a life-threatening hypermetabolic reaction to volatile anesthetics and succinylcholine, identified before the procedure so triggering drugs can be avoided.

A drug-induced state in which the patient responds purposefully to verbal or light touch stimulation, keeps a patent airway, and breathes adequately on their own, though alertness is reduced.

Anesthesia care in which an anesthesia professional gives sedation as needed and continuously monitors the patient while a practitioner performs the procedure under local anesthesia.

Continuous measurement and display of exhaled carbon dioxide, which reveals hypoventilation and apnea sooner than pulse oximetry alone, especially when the patient is receiving supplemental oxygen.

A noninvasive estimate of arterial oxygen saturation obtained by shining light through tissue, useful for detecting hypoxemia but delayed and unreliable for detecting inadequate ventilation.

Slowing and shallowing of breathing caused by opioids, which can progress to low oxygen and apnea, particularly when opioids are combined with sedatives or given to high-risk patients.

Drugs such as naloxone and flumazenil that counteract opioid or benzodiazepine effects, used when sedation or breathing depression is deeper or longer than intended.

Combining two or more pain-relieving drugs or techniques with different mechanisms so that each can be used at a lower dose, improving comfort and reducing side effects.

A short-acting intravenous sedative-hypnotic with rapid onset and quick recovery that can cause low blood pressure, apnea, and loss of airway reflexes, so close monitoring is required.

Delivery of oxygen through a tight-sealing mask and self-inflating bag when a patient's breathing is inadequate, a core rescue skill whenever sedation is provided.

The first stage of postanesthesia care, where the patient is monitored closely for airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness until vital functions are stable.

The later stage of recovery for ambulatory patients who are awake and stable, focusing on pain, nausea, mobility, and readiness for discharge home.

A scoring tool that rates activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation to objectively determine whether a patient is ready to leave Phase I recovery.

A tool that assigns points for vital signs, activity, nausea and vomiting, pain, and surgical bleeding to decide whether an ambulatory patient meets criteria for discharge.

A reflex spasm of the vocal cords that partly or fully closes the airway, often during emergence or with secretions or stimulation, requiring prompt oxygen, airway support, and sometimes medication.

An abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood, detected by pulse oximetry or blood gas, that calls for airway assessment, oxygen, and correction of the underlying cause.

Agitation, confusion, and disorientation occurring as anesthesia wears off, seen most often in children and older adults, which requires calm reassurance, safety measures, and treatment of contributing causes.

A rare hypermetabolic crisis triggered by certain anesthetics, marked by rising temperature, muscle rigidity, acidosis, and rapid heart rate, treated emergently with dantrolene, cooling, and supportive care.

Nausea and vomiting after anesthesia and surgery, caused by anesthetic drugs, opioids, movement, and patient factors, and managed with preventive and rescue antiemetic therapy.

Passage of stomach contents or oral secretions into the lungs, which can cause chemical injury, infection, and airway blockage; prevention relies on fasting and protecting the airway.

A defined set of clinical and functional standards, such as stable vital signs, controlled pain, and ability to walk, that a patient must meet before leaving the facility.

A teaching approach in which the patient restates instructions in their own words, letting the nurse confirm understanding and correct gaps before the patient goes home.

A capable adult who accompanies the patient home and stays with them after sedation, a standard requirement because lingering drug effects impair judgment, balance, and the ability to respond to problems.

Printed information covering wound care, medications, diet, activity limits, warning signs, and whom to contact, given so patients can refer to guidance after leaving the facility.

A structured call placed after discharge to check symptoms, pain control, understanding of instructions, and satisfaction, and to identify complications that need further care.

Limits on driving, operating equipment, or making important decisions after sedation or anesthesia, because reaction time and judgment stay impaired for up to 24 hours even when the patient feels normal.

Evidence-based practice statements from the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses covering assessment, monitoring, staffing, and discharge for patients receiving perianesthesia care.

A brief pause immediately before a procedure in which the team verbally confirms patient identity, procedure, site, consent, and allergies to prevent wrong-patient and wrong-site errors.

A structured way to transfer patient information using Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation, reducing omissions and misunderstandings when care passes between providers or units.

A way of managing errors that encourages reporting, separates human error from reckless behavior, and balances individual accountability with improvement of systems and processes.

A measurable marker of care, such as unplanned admission, prolonged recovery, or medication error, used to track performance and guide improvement in perianesthesia services.