General anaesthetic question

[stupiduser]

Has anyone had a general anaesthetic with a tongue piercing? Do I have to take it out? I don't want it to close up!

You're meant to take out all piercings.

Take it out.
Diathermy + piercing = burns plus you could choke on it if it came loose while the breathing tube is put in.
They will insist I’m afraid.

All piercings? I may have a problem as I can't get my nose one out!

They can probably put a bit of tape over your nose piercing if you can't remove it.

If you take the tongue piercing out just before going down to theatre and put it back in on return to the ward I shouldn't think there will be time for it to close up.

You will likely be advised to take it out if possible. There’s a risk of a) trauma to the tongue & b) inhaling the piercing if it gets dislodged/damaged while inserting whatever airway device they need to use. The nose ring should ideally come out too if possible, but is slightly less of a problem if it’s not possible. (DOI: anaesthetist)

Tongue piercing HAS to come out.

If it gets dislodged during your surgery you could die of airway obstruction.

I refused to anaesthetise the last patient I met who refused to take theirs out as I felt the risk was too high.

Also an anaesthetist.

Nose/ Ear piercings we would prefer out but can usually work round if tricky.

Also anaesthetist-sorry to say I also made someone remove a tongue piercing only this weekend-it found easily cause trauma if we catch it when we insert the breathing tube.

Ok I will bow to all your knowledge and remove it. I much prefer to have the surgery than keep the piercing if it is a choice!

It will hardly close up on the space of a few hours. I used to have my tongue pierced and it didn’t take a couple of weeks to completely close. Take it out OP, its the safest option.

@LadyCampanulaTottington mine came out during dinner one day, I left it till the end of the meal to put back in and it had closed up! Less than an hour and it was like it had never been done. It wasn't a new piercing either, I had had it done nearly 2 years. Either way I'm happy to take it out of it is necessary