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AMA
Original poster

I work in the Operating Theatre. AMA

313 replies

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 17:33

I’m an Operating Department Practitioner working in the private sector.

I work the majority the time in a senior speciality role as a scrub practitioner or surgical first assistant.

Sometimes I work alongside the anaesthetist.

ask me anything!

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:06

APoppyLicks · 23/02/2023 18:28

Does seeing the effects of some habits or behaviour make you more conscious of your own habits or indulgence?

In the sense we all know X is bad for us (alcohol, foods, smoking, vaping, drugs) but by seeing the physical consequences does it put you off a glass of wine or phat take out?

Honestly not really.

OP posts:
Jamietarttdoodoodoodoo · 23/02/2023 19:07

I was chatting to a friend about my recent gallbladder removal and I commented how weird it felt coming round in the recovery room and she said "oh no, they actually bring you round once the operation is done, in the operating room, and they check you can follow instructions like blinking, and they ask you questions which you answer". I was a bit weirded out by this. She reckons we just don't remember this part. Is that correct?

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:08

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 23/02/2023 18:38

Do people often get very emotional before being put under? And what do theatre staff think? I got very very scared before my major surgery and properly sobbed lying on the table. I was quite embarrassed!

I also woke up in loads of pain - is that normal? I have to have another op that's similar and don't know whether to ask if they can give me more pain relief than they did last time!

Some people do get overwhelmed yes, I think it suddenly hits them when they get to the anaesthetic room and they feel emotional. We try and support them the best we can. I usually ask them what’s worrying them and answer their questions the best I can before they go to sleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:08

MsFogi · 23/02/2023 18:58

Thanks OP - Do people wee/poo whilst under GA?

very very occasionally but it is not common.

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:10

Jamietarttdoodoodoodoo · 23/02/2023 19:07

I was chatting to a friend about my recent gallbladder removal and I commented how weird it felt coming round in the recovery room and she said "oh no, they actually bring you round once the operation is done, in the operating room, and they check you can follow instructions like blinking, and they ask you questions which you answer". I was a bit weirded out by this. She reckons we just don't remember this part. Is that correct?

Sometimes we take patients to recovery still intubated other times we wake them in theatre. It depends on the anaesthetist preference. You won’t remember waking up usually. I had recent surgery and remember feeling really bright and chatty in recovery and was there for about 10 mins that I could remember. I was actually there for about 30 but I don’t remember the first 20 🤣

OP posts:
Olivia199 · 23/02/2023 19:12

Just a little hello from a fellow ODP!

CliffsofMohair · 23/02/2023 19:14

Qualifications wise, how would SI become an ODP?

HaroldTheStallion · 23/02/2023 19:17

I had my gallbladder removed and the anaesthetist told me that they'd had to give me a shot of adrenaline to bring me round because my heart rate kept dropping, and that "it was scary!" That freaked me out as I was only in my mid-forties. Is it common having to give adrenaline and have you seen it happen? It makes me quite worried about ever having to have surgery again!

LibbyL92 · 23/02/2023 19:22

What happens once they put you to sleep? You’re moved into the theatre?

do they put a tube down your throat and tape your eyes shut?

have many people are in the operating theatre at one time? (Workers)

Bekindbekind · 23/02/2023 19:27

Is it really cold in the operating theatre?

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:31

CliffsofMohair · 23/02/2023 19:14

Qualifications wise, how would SI become an ODP?

You need to train at university level so check the requirements for your university.

ODP apprenticeships are also now a thing so the best way would be to apply as a theatre care support worker at a local trust and ask if they offer the apprenticeship route.

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:42

HaroldTheStallion · 23/02/2023 19:17

I had my gallbladder removed and the anaesthetist told me that they'd had to give me a shot of adrenaline to bring me round because my heart rate kept dropping, and that "it was scary!" That freaked me out as I was only in my mid-forties. Is it common having to give adrenaline and have you seen it happen? It makes me quite worried about ever having to have surgery again!

Yes this does happen now and again especially during laparoscopic surgery. Bit of bad wording on the anaesthetists part!

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:44

LibbyL92 · 23/02/2023 19:22

What happens once they put you to sleep? You’re moved into the theatre?

do they put a tube down your throat and tape your eyes shut?

have many people are in the operating theatre at one time? (Workers)

Once you’re asleep you are intubated with a tube (there are various types), your eyes are taped only if they are not required to be open or we need to prep your face with antiseptic if operating there.

how many people depends where you are. NHS theatres have quite a lot! I’ve been in a theatre that has sometimes a minimum of 10 people. We have staffing guidelines to follow but the minimum for an asleep patient we have is 6 usually.

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:46

Bekindbekind · 23/02/2023 19:27

Is it really cold in the operating theatre?

Sometimes if I am circulating (doing paperwork, fetching equipment etc) then yes but if I’m scrubbed then not - sometimes it’s very hot. The lights can get quite hot and the patient has warming devices so standing right up against the patient transfers heat.

burns operating theatres are very hot to benefit the patient but I have not been in them.

OP posts:
lemonyfox · 23/02/2023 19:50

I had surgery recently and started to come round whilst the tube was still in my throat (post surgery). I have very very vivid recollections of feeling like I was suffocating and thinking to myself that I was going to die. I genuinely thought it was the end.

Is that normal? That the tube is only taken out once a patient starts coming round? Because it's absolutely terrifying!

LibbyL92 · 23/02/2023 19:50

Thank you for answering my previous question!

one last one.

when I had an op recently the surgeon said have a wee before I go down otherwise she will ‘have to do it for me’

I woke up without my paper knickers on so I presume I still had a full bladder.

it was keyhole surgery. How did they go for a ‘wee’ for me?

familyissues12345 · 23/02/2023 19:54

Fascinating thread! I had my gallbladder out this week so watching with interest

Meezer2 · 23/02/2023 19:56

Hello ODP colleagues from an obstetric scrub ODP. 😊x

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:57

lemonyfox · 23/02/2023 19:50

I had surgery recently and started to come round whilst the tube was still in my throat (post surgery). I have very very vivid recollections of feeling like I was suffocating and thinking to myself that I was going to die. I genuinely thought it was the end.

Is that normal? That the tube is only taken out once a patient starts coming round? Because it's absolutely terrifying!

Yes the patient ideally needs to be breathing for themselves when they are extubated

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:58

LibbyL92 · 23/02/2023 19:50

Thank you for answering my previous question!

one last one.

when I had an op recently the surgeon said have a wee before I go down otherwise she will ‘have to do it for me’

I woke up without my paper knickers on so I presume I still had a full bladder.

it was keyhole surgery. How did they go for a ‘wee’ for me?

We pop a little catheter in to drain your bladder. The catheter might just stay for your surgery duration or sometimes we just do it right at the end of your surgery and drain it into a jug then take it out.

OP posts:
roundofapplause · 23/02/2023 20:02

This thread is fascinating!

I woke up from surgery last year and as I was coming round I remember there was something in my mouth. I don't know what it was because the lovely nurse took it out as she was talking to me and I was waking up. I'm my mind it felt like a glass thermometer. Unlikely I know, but what might this have been?

lottie198 · 23/02/2023 20:04

familyissues12345 · 23/02/2023 19:54

Fascinating thread! I had my gallbladder out this week so watching with interest

I had mine out on Saturday! I was terrified of being put to sleep but it was honestly fine. Literally can't even remember falling asleep and the next thing I knew I was in recovery. Good luck with the op, hopefully they can do it keyhole

Always4Brenner · 23/02/2023 20:06

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 17:33

I’m an Operating Department Practitioner working in the private sector.

I work the majority the time in a senior speciality role as a scrub practitioner or surgical first assistant.

Sometimes I work alongside the anaesthetist.

ask me anything!

What’s the most used agent used is it still propofol, for GA. If after giving that what gas is used to keep them under? . Not in the profession but love medical History especially surgery and anaesthetics.

BiggerBoyMadeMeDoit · 23/02/2023 20:07

Olivia199 · 23/02/2023 19:12

Just a little hello from a fellow ODP!

Hi, from a fellow theatre practitioner!

great thread @1AnotherOne

Viathethicket · 23/02/2023 20:11

Another ex ODP here. When I started, the career path wasn't mapped out in the way it is now, but luckily we had visionary anaesthetists who introduced a proper career structure at our hospital. It really was the best job - with anything from a ruptured aneurysm to a tonsillectomy to a liver transplant facing you.