Page 5 | I work in the Operating Theatre. AMA

1AnotherOne · 2023-02-23T17:33:01+00:00

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!

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 23/02/2023 21:33

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 19:08

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.

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Thank you for answering OP, that was definitely me - overwhelmed! I can confirm the anaesthetist and the other lady who must do your job were lovely and let me cry while giving me whatever the lovely pre op drug is which makes everything feel better.

I'm quite jealous of people who feel like they've had a lovely sleep. For me reality just stops and restarts - I've no sense of time passing at all, no sense of sleeping, just like blinking and suddenly being somewhere else.

MummyMcMumington · 23/02/2023 21:35

Why would I have woken up during an operation?

BuddhaAtSea · 23/02/2023 21:36

Fordian · 23/02/2023 17:54

Are all orthopaedic surgeons c*nts? Speaking as X-ray....

😂😂😂

Rosieandtwinkle · 23/02/2023 21:36

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 21:29

You were probably taking a little while to come round in recovery. When you’ve been given lots of opiates you can be given Naloxone to reverse the effects of it. I don’t know how often it’s given because I don’t work in recovery

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Thank you! This is such an interesting thread 😊

WetLettuce2 · 23/02/2023 21:38

On a gyni ward a fellow patient was in for a hysterectomy. I overheard the surgeon telling her post op that she was pregnant and did she know. She didn’t.
They went ahead with op as planned and she was extremely upset.
Would they normally proceed like this ?

WetLettuce2 · 23/02/2023 21:39

Great AMA btw OP - very interesting!

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2023 21:41

WetLettuce2 · 23/02/2023 21:38

On a gyni ward a fellow patient was in for a hysterectomy. I overheard the surgeon telling her post op that she was pregnant and did she know. She didn’t.
They went ahead with op as planned and she was extremely upset.
Would they normally proceed like this ?

No they absolutely wouldn't go ahead. Also it's a legal requirement that all females over 13 have a pregnancy test pre theatre. So this is unlikely.

Fyyahh · 23/02/2023 21:47

Thanks for doing this thread @1AnotherOne; it's fascinating!

I had surgery a few months ago and could choose general or local. I went for local, and it was a lovely and calm experience.

I wanted to be as aware as possible during the op, and the anaesthetist said he would only give me a tiny dose of sedative. I felt whatever he gave me go in, but the anaesthetist seemed a bit confused and said 'did you feel anything?' like he was expecting to see some change in me. Any idea what that could have been about?

He also said when I was handed over from recovery to ward 'she's had sedation, but as you can see she isn't'. I was bright and chatty all through the surgery and didn't feel like I'd had any drugs other than the local. Could adrenalin have meant that whatever dose of sedative I was given was over-riden by my body? I wasn't unnaturally calm by the way, just felt very normal.

Identifyingasadolphin · 23/02/2023 21:48

In the private sector do you feel that the operating theatre staff and surgeons work well and cohesively as teams?
For example if they are working perhaps in the NHS in one location, then also covering private sessions elsewhere in addition?

I ask after a procedure at a private hospital
An upper blepharoplasty where I elected for local anaesthetic (the normal is GA)
The team seemed uneasy with my choice
The theatre seemed no different to an average, but old, GP surgery treatment room - not the OT spec I was expecting (where sterile TKR’s and THR’s were also to be done)
The anaesthetic staff seemed to be faffing for ages, struggling to get the oxygen line to work, seemed unfamiliar with the equipment and unprepared within their surroundings, it was generally chaotic rather than calm.
They were verbally rude to the surgeon, in my presence.
It seemed like 6 staff from 6 locations had been pulled together as a non-cohesive team.

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 23/02/2023 21:50

Love this thread. Iv had GA100s of times and iv never had any major issues and never remember a thing except how lovely the staff are. I always appreciate the person who holds my hand why I go to sleep it really helps. My question is i always find later that night after GA I always get really irritable and find my mh declines for a few months after is this something that's quite common with people.

Widgets · 23/02/2023 21:54

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 21:12

Not at all. A couple of times I’ve been splashed on the face by pulsating vessels or got a shoe full of blood clots when doing a vaginal hysterectomy but it’s rare.

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I would love to know more about what actually happens during a vaginal hysterectomy, as I had a laparoscopic total hysterectomy last year.
what is done first? The tummy and belly button incisions? Or the cervical clamp?! Does the tummy / vagina have surgeons working in that area at the same time? Or one and then the other?
How long does it take on average? I think I was in theatre approx 2.5 / 3 hours

Twilight7777 · 23/02/2023 21:58

I have to take steroids as part of a medical condition, and usually wake up really quickly and manage to stay awake. Do you see many people like this? Always wondered if it was quite rare.

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:00

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2023 21:41

No they absolutely wouldn't go ahead. Also it's a legal requirement that all females over 13 have a pregnancy test pre theatre. So this is unlikely.

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Agreed I find this really odd. I think you must have misheard perhaps?

OP posts:

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:01

Fyyahh · 23/02/2023 21:47

Thanks for doing this thread @1AnotherOne; it's fascinating!

I had surgery a few months ago and could choose general or local. I went for local, and it was a lovely and calm experience.

I wanted to be as aware as possible during the op, and the anaesthetist said he would only give me a tiny dose of sedative. I felt whatever he gave me go in, but the anaesthetist seemed a bit confused and said 'did you feel anything?' like he was expecting to see some change in me. Any idea what that could have been about?

He also said when I was handed over from recovery to ward 'she's had sedation, but as you can see she isn't'. I was bright and chatty all through the surgery and didn't feel like I'd had any drugs other than the local. Could adrenalin have meant that whatever dose of sedative I was given was over-riden by my body? I wasn't unnaturally calm by the way, just felt very normal.

everyone reacts differently. The aim is to keep you calm and relaxed which you seem to have been!

OP posts:

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:03

Identifyingasadolphin · 23/02/2023 21:48

In the private sector do you feel that the operating theatre staff and surgeons work well and cohesively as teams?
For example if they are working perhaps in the NHS in one location, then also covering private sessions elsewhere in addition?

I ask after a procedure at a private hospital
An upper blepharoplasty where I elected for local anaesthetic (the normal is GA)
The team seemed uneasy with my choice
The theatre seemed no different to an average, but old, GP surgery treatment room - not the OT spec I was expecting (where sterile TKR’s and THR’s were also to be done)
The anaesthetic staff seemed to be faffing for ages, struggling to get the oxygen line to work, seemed unfamiliar with the equipment and unprepared within their surroundings, it was generally chaotic rather than calm.
They were verbally rude to the surgeon, in my presence.
It seemed like 6 staff from 6 locations had been pulled together as a non-cohesive team.

I’ve heard from surgeons that not all hospitals are made equal. Lots of hospitals have staffing issues and rely heavily on agency. Sorry you had a bad experience, hope you’re pleased with your result? Bleph surgery is fantastic.

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Coconutbutt · 23/02/2023 22:03

When I had an emergency C Section as they were putting me under they said they were gonna have to press on my throat? What was that for? Also I had to drink something out of a tiny pot beforehand? What was that?

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:06

Widgets · 23/02/2023 21:54

I would love to know more about what actually happens during a vaginal hysterectomy, as I had a laparoscopic total hysterectomy last year.
what is done first? The tummy and belly button incisions? Or the cervical clamp?! Does the tummy / vagina have surgeons working in that area at the same time? Or one and then the other?
How long does it take on average? I think I was in theatre approx 2.5 / 3 hours

Show quote history

for a total laparoscopic (speaking from memory here as haven’t done a total for ages!) they use a device that goes into the uterus via the vaginal that enables someone (a surgical first assistant) who sits ‘at the bottom end’ to manipulate the uterus to move it around so those ‘at the top end’ (surgeon, another first assistant and a scrub practitioner) can free up the uterus, tubes, ovaries, cervix using cutting/cautery devices. Once freed it is pulled out via the vaginal and closed laparoscopically.

Again this is from memory as I haven’t done one for about 2 years! We do more laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy these days rather than total - only cause our surgeon who did it moved on

OP posts:

DominoBlue · 23/02/2023 22:06

When I have GA the anaesthetist finds it hard to knock me out. Last time the premed didn't do anything, so he said just go straight to GA, asked me to count down from 10 but nothing happened, didn't feel drowsy. He tried more and said he'd given me enough to put a Shire horse to sleep! Obviously it worked in the end but I have the same problem in the dentist. And IV paracetamol doesnt work either.
Why does this happen? I'm worried as I'm due to have major surgery shortly.

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:09

Coconutbutt · 23/02/2023 22:03

When I had an emergency C Section as they were putting me under they said they were gonna have to press on my throat? What was that for? Also I had to drink something out of a tiny pot beforehand? What was that?

They were performing a rapid sequence induction which involves putting pressure on your cricoid so you don’t vomit any stomach contents. It allows us to safely secure an airway without risk of aspiration as you would not be nil by mouth.

I believe the drink is an anti-acid sort of thing. (It’s been a while since my obstetric placement!)

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Ratatatatatouille · 23/02/2023 22:10

I love everything medicine related! I have had 6 surgeries now including 2 which were plastics. Every one was amazing, such fantastic staff.

one person really stands out for me and he was my anaesthetist. Just the kindest man, even gave me a local for my cannula as my veins are so small.

also gave me oxy for pain relief which was bloody amazing! I woke up bright and alert, no nausea and loved everyone. Good stuff, that!

gluenotsoup · 23/02/2023 22:10

This is so interesting, thanks OP!
My question is a bit of an odd one, it’s something I’ve always wondered but didn’t know who to ask. When I gave birth to my dd I had a large PPH. The panic button was pressed and a team came in to do what they do, the lead was the anaesthetist. They were trying to stop the bleeding, get drips in etc, and I very clearly remember the panic about the blood pressure reading being 41/19. So… how bad is that for blood pressure? Was it a close call 😬..?

Original poster

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:15

gluenotsoup · 23/02/2023 22:10

This is so interesting, thanks OP!
My question is a bit of an odd one, it’s something I’ve always wondered but didn’t know who to ask. When I gave birth to my dd I had a large PPH. The panic button was pressed and a team came in to do what they do, the lead was the anaesthetist. They were trying to stop the bleeding, get drips in etc, and I very clearly remember the panic about the blood pressure reading being 41/19. So… how bad is that for blood pressure? Was it a close call 😬..?

That BP would certainly get my heart thudding if I read it, so glad you’re ok

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oakleaffy · 23/02/2023 22:15

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 23/02/2023 20:59

@oakleaffyI wonder if that was shock? My body did this after childbirth.

Interesting thought- Childbirth is “Natural” but anaesthetics aren’t- It wasn’t very nice, and completely uncontrollable, almost like having a type of fit ( but they said it was just shivering) .

Were you cold?

BlueSeaWave · 23/02/2023 22:16

CatsGinAndTwiglets · 23/02/2023 17:41

Are women ever given pelvic/vaginal examinations while unconsciousness that they haven’t consented to? I’ve heard that students and junior doctors often practice doing the examinations in theatre.

This used to happen decades ago, but was quite rightfully banned and seen as barbaric. Any woman having an examination under anaesthetic by a student has to be consented to it and the consent documented now. It is only also for woman under going a gynaecological procedure at the time. You wouldn’t for example go in for a lung biopsy and have this asked.
It doesn’t undo the things of the past though for those it happened too.

dawnc27 · 23/02/2023 22:19

hi! if you dont mind,or any other ODPs i have some questions. my dd applied for paramedicine at uni and one of them turned her down but have offered operations department course instead.
could we ask, is this job a more admin type job? or do you do medical type things? as obv she would prefer the hands on type of course (shes also been offered adult nursing but we are still waiting on 2 for the paramedic)
is there scope to move onto other medical areas, such as nurse, paramedic from being an ODP?
what are typical things you do in a day?
is it set hours each week, shifts, different times of day ect?
sorry ill stop there!
thanks