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When you go to surgery are you responsive during the ...


Sent to Health Experts June 19, 2006 4:34 p.m.

When you go to surgery are you responsive during the preping? When do you go out all the way?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $8   
Info Request
June 19, 2006 4:40 p.m. (6 minutes and 2 seconds later)
REPLIED to Info Request Check Mark

Hi there.

Can I ask what sugery you are going to have and if you are to have a general anasthetic?

AI

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Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 20, 2006 1:38 p.m. (20 hours and 57 minutes later)

It's not me. My husband had five diffrent surgerys. Appendectomy, small bowel resection, staff infection caused it to come open so they put his skin back together with mesh,skin graft, last one was a gallbaldder removal another small bowel resection and a componet seperation to close his ab muscles. I have it in my mind that you are sedated but responsive up until just befor the first cut. True or not?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 20, 2006 3:25 p.m. (1 hour and 47 minutes later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Totally untrue.

Your are given an anaesthetic injection that produces very rapid and complete anaethesia ( the bit on the TV when you count to 10!). Anaesthesia is then maintained with anaethetic gases right thru till the end of the procedure. You are fully under before any sort of prepping of the skin, and indeed in most OR's there is a seperate anaesthetic room so you are under before you even enter the main operating area.

I hope this answes your question?

Regards

AI

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PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 20, 2006 4:43 p.m. (1 hour and 18 minutes later)

What is induction? On the anaesthesia record the medication changes at the time the operation starts. His blood pressure goes up and down. What is that? He was in the OR about 40 min. until this happens.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 20, 2006 6:06 p.m. (1 hour and 22 minutes later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Induction is the process of producing anaethesia
( the injection of anaethetic aka - induction).

When the operation starts it is common practice to give more meication ( opiate analgesics(pinkillers), incresed concentrations of anaethetic gases).
The initial surical stimulus can produce a rise in blood pressure.

AI

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PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 9:21 a.m. (15 hours and 15 minutes later)

Even though you don't remember can the body feel some of this? Is there a reaction from the patient? Like muscles moving or twitching on there own? I'm sorry there is a real reason I need to understand this. I can't say why.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 9:29 a.m. (8 minutes and 25 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Hi

It depends what type of anaethetic has been given .

If the patient has been given a muscle relaxant (commonly done esp in the USA) then there will be no movements.

It is not uncommon for there to be slight movements when the first surgical stimulus is applied but only if muscle relaxants have not been used.

Awareness under anaethesia is a risk only when muscle relaxants are used.

Please feel free to give me all the info you like.
I spent 6 years as an anaesthesiologist ( hence my FRCA- Fellow of The Royal College of Anaesthetists).

AI

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PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 9:48 a.m. (18 minutes and 50 seconds later)

I guess I don't know you so it's ok. I was molested in a medical way by my mom as a kid. It is a long story. Anwhow I don't trust people very well. My husband was naked more than once in front of people I don't know. I know men can get and erection when they put the foley in. Can this happen on the OR? His incesion is one inch above his penis. Do you think he was at least covered during the actual operation? There is no way during the preping I know that.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 10:24 a.m. (35 minutes and 55 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Yes of course he was covered during the op.

Completely ,from toe to head the only bit exposed is a small square around the acutual surgical incison.

Keeping the patient covered keeps them warm and makes infection less of a risk.

I only ever saw one erection in the OR.
That patient has been given an induction agent called "propofol" which can ,rarely, have this side effect. Also this patient was having an operation on his penis.

The OR staff are use to dealing with patients "bits," trust me , it's all very mundane and no one is the least bit interested. Respect and the dignifed treatment of patients is a priority.

Regsrds

AI

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PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 10:52 a.m. (27 minutes and 45 seconds later)

Don't be angery with me. I'm not trying to say they did something wrong. Erections happen with just simple handling. You have to do that to get the foley in. I didn't know how close the drapes can come to the incison. So they can keep it clean. This is why it is so hard to ask. Why do doctors get so offened? We have been together since I was 15, 24 years now. It's no every day people see my husband naked. With my background how am I supposed to feel? My abuse was not my fault. It's hard for me. Please try to understand.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 11:00 a.m. (8 minutes and 17 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

No

I'm not at all "angry" with you!

Why should I be.

I was simply trying to reassure you.

I ment no offence!!

AI

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Thankyou if I have answered your question please click accept. Feedback/Bonus is appreciated.Please feel free to ask if anything is not clear.
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 11:04 a.m. (3 minutes and 45 seconds later)

Thanks. Is there any medical reason why he could't get an erection? I was was whishing that was your answer.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 21, 2006 11:06 a.m. (2 minutes and 40 seconds later)
REPLIED to Info Request Check Mark

I'm slighly confused now!

Do you mean when you and he are intimate?
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 11:12 a.m. (5 minutes and 15 seconds later)

Ok at least you made me laugh out loud. No I mean when they put the foley in. Can the meds that make you go to sleep keep you from getting one? Have you been around when they are putting the foley in or where you doing something else??
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 11:15 a.m. (3 minutes and 12 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

I've only ever seen one patient get an erection in he OR and he was having an op on his penis.

I've never encountered a man anaeshetised or not getting an erection during catheterisation.

The non anaethetised men get quite a fright at the size of the foley!

AI

__________________
Thankyou if I have answered your question please click accept. Feedback/Bonus is appreciated.Please feel free to ask if anything is not clear.
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 11:20 a.m. (5 minutes and 19 seconds later)

I know a nurse that said "you have to be careful how much you mess with them beacuse they can get one and it's embarassing for the patient. Thats why I ask. If you are cleaning that area and they can still feel it. I guess that is my answer???
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 11:26 a.m. (5 minutes and 47 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

If the patient is anaesthetised they will be totally unaware of any sensation.

Spinal reflexes can still be present (even shortly after death!) and this accounts for involuntry movements observed in the OR.

Re the nurses comments. I agree that if a patient was awake (ie on a ward) being catheterised getting an erection would be embarrassing for both parties but that is not the sitution in the OR.

AI

__________________
Thankyou if I have answered your question please click accept. Feedback/Bonus is appreciated.Please feel free to ask if anything is not clear.
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 11:29 a.m. (3 minutes and 23 seconds later)

So he could get an involuntry one?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 11:35 a.m. (5 minutes and 28 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Could

But as i've stated very very unlikely.

AI

__________________
Thankyou if I have answered your question please click accept. Feedback/Bonus is appreciated.Please feel free to ask if anything is not clear.
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.
Reply to Alexander Irvine
Sent June 21, 2006 11:43 a.m. (7 minutes and 45 seconds later)

Thank you for helping me with this delicate question. I have been posting stuff on a blog if you want to read it. hhtp://bioethicsdiscussion.blogspot.com/2005/08/naked.html
It has 2 links this is the first. You can get to the second from there.
I'm Kim
Thanks again.
Reply so I can hit the accept.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 21, 2006 2:07 p.m. (2 hours and 24 minutes later)
ACCEPTED Check Mark

Hi

I'll check out your blog this evening.

All the best.

AI
PictureScottish DOC  -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 1124 Health Accepts
MBchB (commended),FRCA, MRCGP(with merit) I qualified in 1990 and work full-time in family medicine.

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