Your operation
The procedure you will undergo will consist of the anaesthetic and the actual operation. You will not be permitted anything to eat or drink for approximately six hours before your operation. Ward staff will help you to take a bath or shower and put on a surgical gown. You will also have to remove make-up, nail polish or jewellery (it is advisable to leave valuables at home). If you wear glasses or false teeth, these can be removed in the anaesthesia room if you wish.
Your anaesthetist will already have been to see you to go through the process, probably the day before. You will be taken from the ward to the operating theatre and before going into theatre, you will be taken into the anaesthesia room, accompanied by a theatre nurse. You will be asked a number of questions from a checklist which you will already have answered – this procedure is therefore purely a double-check. All of the drugs required to administer sedation are in this room.
Three sticky patches are applied to the chest area which allow the heart to be monitored during surgery. A small plastic tube is inserted into a vein, usually at the back of the hand. This is taped in place and is the route through which all necessary drugs will be injected.
Once the sedative is injected, which normally feels slightly cold, you will begin to feel drowsy. You may be asked to count backwards from ten – invariably you will be asleep well before you reach the number one. Once asleep, the anaesthetic team begin their work. You will be intubated – whereby a tube will be passed down your throat, allowing oxygen and other gases to be pumped into the lungs. You may also be catheterised, enabling kidney function to be monitored during surgery. The catheter may be left in place for approximately 24 hours after surgery, removing the need to get up and empty the bladder. Once these processes have been completed satisfactorily, you are ready for surgery.
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
