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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:
oakleaffy · 23/02/2023 22:21

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.

I have this with local anaesthetics-Makes for a painful time.
Epidural didn’t work either .

General did. Breathed in what I thought was just oxygen - next second all over🙂 👍

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 23/02/2023 22:25

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 has been banned for 30 years in the UK.

TakeMeToKernow · 23/02/2023 22:29

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!

I’d like to know the same as Granny’s second question.

I woke up from ankle surgery writhing in agony. A solid 9/10 on the pain scale. Someone sprang into action and gave me morphine (I think) in the cannula in the back of my hand, but the pain was insane. Is this normal???

I made them tell me jokes while pain relief kicked in and were pretty sweet, but afterwards I was thinking “why the heck couldn’t I have some localised pain relief before I woke up?”

oakleaffy · 23/02/2023 22:29

1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 20:13

Propofol as an induction agent then Sevoflurane inhalational but lots of anaesthetists are moving to TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthetic) now of propofol and remifentanil infusion. I had TIVA when I had surgery recently and it was wonderful. No nausea or sickness and felt super bright and alert.

Show quote history

That’s interesting,@1AnotherOne .
I had Sighthounds in 1990’ s before Propofol was routinely used- and barbiturates ( Thiopentone(?) were used to put dogs under.

Very prolonged recoveries for poor sighthounds.

With propofol, I collected a dog that was on her feet and wagging her tail.

Anything that avoids the hangoverish feeling will be so much nicer for people and animals alike.

MissConductUS · 23/02/2023 22:29

RahRahOhLaLa · 23/02/2023 17:39

I just saw a video where a patient had taken their phone in for a sedated procedure so they could, on coming round, ask questions and record the answers. They accidentally pressed record on the way in. It recorded the anaesthetist saying awful things, it was in America-they’ve just been awarded $$$$$$ in compensation! Not an op but still, not what you expect to be said when sedated.

Show quote history

I'm in the US. It was a colonoscopy. It's now standard procedure to confiscate the phone when prepping the PT.

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:30

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

It is anything but an admin job - it is extremely hands on. I have done additional training and I’m a surgical first assistant too now. Earlier this week I was wrist deep in bowels in an open abdomen case.

ODPs work across all critical care areas. Definitely do some more research - I would highly recommend it as a career.

Shift patterns depend on what hospital you work for.

OP posts:
LoveQuinnOhDearyMe · 23/02/2023 22:31

I had several GAs as a child (childhood cancer) then nothing for 25 years until last year when I ended up having 3!!!!

One of these was a pretty complex and essential surgery for an emergency issue about a week after it was discovered. At my follow ups, I met my surgeon who said that the students in the room were called in especially to witness as my case was very rare and I will be a patient subject of papers and journals ( I mean don’t I just feel like a celebrity now!}. So my question is how often are students in the operating room observing and does the patient ever normally realise or are they told?

My operation was on one of my eyes yet I woke up with severe abdominal pain! Whatever they shoved in my mouth worked wonders within 30 seconds and sent me to cloud 9….

Is it true that the GA is being administered literally as soon as that needle is in your arm? I was so nervous about the GA at the first op and the two people in the anaesthetic room were so lovely, saying they’ll put something in to calm me and were saying what they were going to do - was then told by a doctor friend that I would have been well on my way by that point and past the point of no return.

I don’t remember the tube. I remember the warm tingly feeling like I was drunk as the GA took over my body.

ElfHasBeenSilly · 23/02/2023 22:32

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 23/02/2023 20:59

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

And mine! I shook like a leaf after DD was born. For ages too. I got wrapped in foil!

ancientgran · 23/02/2023 22:35

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2023 18:20

Ours are lovely. Spinal surgeons on the other hand....

Show quote history

Oh that made me remember going with DH to see a spinal surgeon after he had a serious accident. He was a strange character. He said, "Well we can do this op but it will probably make you impotent and doubly incontinent and I can't promise it will stop the pain." Husband looked the way you'd expect him to look and said he didn't think he wanted it. Surgeon then said, "Why not?" DH explained what I think anyone would understand and surgeon said, "I'm a miserable old bugger." That was it and we left. It was so bizarre we couldn't stop laughing when we got out.

dawnc27 · 23/02/2023 22:35

is there a lot of call for this job?
like how theres lots of nurses and paramedics needed, or is it a bit more niche?
sorry about all the questions, we had pretty much wrote this offer off thinking that it was pretty much an admin position and the course decription doesnt really say that much tbh

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:35

LoveQuinnOhDearyMe · 23/02/2023 22:31

I had several GAs as a child (childhood cancer) then nothing for 25 years until last year when I ended up having 3!!!!

One of these was a pretty complex and essential surgery for an emergency issue about a week after it was discovered. At my follow ups, I met my surgeon who said that the students in the room were called in especially to witness as my case was very rare and I will be a patient subject of papers and journals ( I mean don’t I just feel like a celebrity now!}. So my question is how often are students in the operating room observing and does the patient ever normally realise or are they told?

My operation was on one of my eyes yet I woke up with severe abdominal pain! Whatever they shoved in my mouth worked wonders within 30 seconds and sent me to cloud 9….

Is it true that the GA is being administered literally as soon as that needle is in your arm? I was so nervous about the GA at the first op and the two people in the anaesthetic room were so lovely, saying they’ll put something in to calm me and were saying what they were going to do - was then told by a doctor friend that I would have been well on my way by that point and past the point of no return.

I don’t remember the tube. I remember the warm tingly feeling like I was drunk as the GA took over my body.

Sorry to hear about your recent surgeries and I do hope you’re recovering? What a fantastic opportunity for the students to see something that they may never see again in their careers.

I have a few instances where I was called to observe things that I may never seen again (and I haven’t thus far!) we do try to take the opportunity to show people rare things when we can and if it’s of benefit to them. Obviously we won’t be calling in the entire department 😅 patients should be told students may be present or were present. This doesn’t always get relayed though.

the GA doesn’t happen quite as immediate as the cannula going in. We tend to give you a couple of other things before the main one. Usually an anti sickness and some opiates. This is a what will give you that light headed feeling.

OP posts:
Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:36

dawnc27 · 23/02/2023 22:35

is there a lot of call for this job?
like how theres lots of nurses and paramedics needed, or is it a bit more niche?
sorry about all the questions, we had pretty much wrote this offer off thinking that it was pretty much an admin position and the course decription doesnt really say that much tbh

Yes absolutely! Hospitals are crying out for ODPs alongside other healthcare professionals. It is a great career and I guarantee never short of a job.

OP posts:
ancientgran · 23/02/2023 22:37

MissConductUS · 23/02/2023 22:29

I'm in the US. It was a colonoscopy. It's now standard procedure to confiscate the phone when prepping the PT.

Show quote history

Glad I declined sedation when I had my colonoscopy.

teachermummyme · 23/02/2023 22:38

What an interesting thread!

I had a craniotomy last November to remove a brain tumour. A couple of days later when still in ICU I noticed that I had several blisters about the size of 50ps over my chest and breasts. The ICU nurses didn't seem to know what might've caused them.

I do know that for the operation they had some difficulty positioning me and that the anaesthetist said they weren't even able to start operating for two hours because they tried one position and 'my heart didn't like it'. Could the blisters have been related to this do you think? A friend even questioned whether I might've needed my heart restarting with a defibrillator but I laughed it off as surely I'd have been informed if that were the case! I wondered if the blisters could simply be from lying and being moved around on the operating table, especially as it was a long (12hr) op.

Any ideas?!

oakleaffy · 23/02/2023 22:39

ElfHasBeenSilly · 23/02/2023 22:32

And mine! I shook like a leaf after DD was born. For ages too. I got wrapped in foil!

Show quote history

In the case of childbirth, could it be low blood sugar? (Wild guess) because it’s blooming hard work ( esp for a first baby)
My back op, I just lay there not exactly exerting myself- I assumed it was a reaction to being deeply “ Asleep”? Or the drugs.

Original poster
1AnotherOne · 23/02/2023 22:41

teachermummyme · 23/02/2023 22:38

What an interesting thread!

I had a craniotomy last November to remove a brain tumour. A couple of days later when still in ICU I noticed that I had several blisters about the size of 50ps over my chest and breasts. The ICU nurses didn't seem to know what might've caused them.

I do know that for the operation they had some difficulty positioning me and that the anaesthetist said they weren't even able to start operating for two hours because they tried one position and 'my heart didn't like it'. Could the blisters have been related to this do you think? A friend even questioned whether I might've needed my heart restarting with a defibrillator but I laughed it off as surely I'd have been informed if that were the case! I wondered if the blisters could simply be from lying and being moved around on the operating table, especially as it was a long (12hr) op.

Any ideas?!

Perhaps a skin reaction from the ECG dots? Or maybe pressure from being leant on. We try not to lean on patients whilst assisting but sometimes it’s needed occasionally.

OP posts:
Platinumpennies · 23/02/2023 22:42

Hi OP
I have a question that I’ve wondered about for a few years now.
My teenager had a long and complex op to remove cancerous tumours. I remember the anaesthetist saying that my teenager was quite ‘agitated’ during the op.
How would this be possible under a GA, please?

whatsmybabysname · 23/02/2023 22:42

This is so interesting I would love to be able to do your job!
My question is after I had my gallbladder removed I woke up and the man sat next to me said I'd had a reaction to the morphine so they had to do something but I can't remember what? What does that mean, is it common to have a reaction to morphine?

JackiePlace · 23/02/2023 22:42

Do the surgeons go off for lunch/coffee in the middle of procedures?

BabsDylan · 23/02/2023 22:42

That stuff they give to you before a GA is magic. I felt like I’d had 20 G&T’s (in a good way). I can see why former addicts decline any opiates.

I also couldn’t stop talking,I bet they loved it once they’d sent me to sleep 😅.

This career sounds so interesting! I am looking at a career change but at 46 I don’t think I can afford (practically and financially) to retrain.

Fascinating thread!

ElfHasBeenSilly · 23/02/2023 22:43

What do surgeons do about going to loo during very long ops?

LikeSpinningPlates · 23/02/2023 22:45

Fordian · 23/02/2023 17:54

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

😂 well said

JackiePlace · 23/02/2023 22:46

How many GAs can a person safely have in one lifetime?
It's basically like poisoning the entire system, isn't it?

MissConductUS · 23/02/2023 22:47

ancientgran · 23/02/2023 22:37

Glad I declined sedation when I had my colonoscopy.

Show quote history

I have one every other year and am quite happy to have propofol.

ancientgran · 23/02/2023 22:50

I come round really fast after a GA, the first op I had I started to wake up and rolled onto my side (I always sleep on my side) I heard a scream and I was caught as I rolled off the operating table. I always warn them now and one of my children is the same so they also know to warn. Is this common? Have you ever seen it?