Question

q14. a pregnant patient is placed supine on the operating table, and a small rolled - up towel or sheet is placed under the right hip to:
take the weight off the vena cava
make the patient more comfortable
shift the uterus to gain better access to the abdominal contents
prevent preterm labor

Explanation:

When a pregnant patient is supine, the large uterus can compress the inferior vena cava. Placing a rolled - up towel or sheet under the right hip tilts the uterus slightly to the left. This relieves the pressure on the vena cava, which is crucial for maintaining venous return and cardiac output. While making the patient more comfortable (but this is a secondary effect), shifting the uterus for better access (not the main reason in this context) and preventing preterm labor (not the direct mechanism here) are also considerations, the primary physiological reason is to take the weight off the vena cava.

Answer:

Take the weight off the vena cava