Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Surgical Intervention for Treating Cervical Disc Disease

Cervical disc disease includes chronic disc degeneration, stenosis, spondylosis, and disc herniation; providers initially treat these conditions conservatively through symptomatic care. When conservative measures fail, surgery may be indicated. It is important to explore all the surgical options available and the risks and benefits of each procedure. An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a procedure involving the removal of disc material to achieve neural tissue decompression and placement of a bone graft or interbody implant and a cervical plate and screws to stabilize the spinal column at one or more vertebral levels. This article briefly reviews the anatomy of the spine and treatment options for cervical disc disease; presents an in-depth review of the ACDF procedure, including the expected perioperative course and care considerations; and concludes with a case report of a 37-year-old woman who underwent an ACDF at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 vertebral levels of the spine.

Perioperative Nursing Care of the Patient Undergoing a Cochlear Implant Procedure

A cochlear implant (CI) is used in the auditory rehabilitation of adult and pediatric patients with sensorineural hearing loss who do not benefit from conventional hearing aids. Perioperative nursing care of the patient with sensorineural hearing loss undergoing cochlear implantation is not extensively discussed in the literature. Preoperative care involves managing the patient and family's expectations for the procedure and determining the most effective communication techniques for each patient. Postoperative care involves monitoring patients closely and identifying the signs and symptoms of a number of possible postoperative complications, as well as knowing how to prevent these complications and respond to them. Thorough patient and family discharge instructions are vital to a successful cochlear implantation result. This article provides perioperative nurses caring for patients receiving a CI with detailed information to help ensure that they provide these patients with the most appropriate and effective care.