RATIONAL AND SAFE POSITIONING OF THE PATIENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE

Patient safety during surgical procedures has been a pressing issue for many years. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the World Alliance for Patient Safety. This alliance has a campaign entitled “Safe Surgery Saves Lives” (2008). Healthcare-related injuries are iatrogenic and, unlike disease complications, can be prevented (WHO, 2019). An integral part of surgery is the patient positioning on the operating table. The purpose of creating an optimal patient position during surgery is to ensure the best surgical and anesthetic access and, while at the same time preventing the development of potential complications associated with the patient's position. Any position of the patient on the operating table carries a certain degree of risk. This problem is aggravated by the fact that the patient is unable to inform about the complication due to unconsciousness and muscle relaxation. This article examines the main types of patient positions on the operating table, describes the features of positioning, examines the complications and methods of preventing them.