Will operation be cancelled?

[Ihateslugs]

I am due to have knee replacement surgery on the 16th December and should have the pre med checks this week. I have developed a cough over the last couple of days, I had a scratchy throat on waking up which I put down to snoring with my mouth open but I now have a chesty type cough. I have no cold symptoms though, no runny nose, temperature etc, just an irritating cough.

Is it possible that they won’t go ahead with the surgery? I will be having a spinal injection and sedation but I know they have to consider the possibility of a general anaesthetic if something goes wrong. I am having the operation as a private patient through my medical insurance but I’m sure that won’t make a difference.

I am terrified of the operation and recovery afterwards but now I’ve got this close, I don’t want it postponed!

Any one know if a chesty cough will affect the operation, as I said, I don’t have any cold symptoms but I’m getting worried now. Still two weeks to go so would hope to be over it by then!

I don’t think they will cancel at this stage, you have over two weeks to recover and will likely be fine by then.
I’d consider taking a covid test though, and wearing a mask to your pre op even if negative. It would be awful to spread your germs and leave someone else possibly unable to have their op after catching whatever you’ve got.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, hope all goes well with your op and post op recovery

Gosh, I never thought about Covid! I threw all my old tests away a few months ago as they were well out of date, maybe I’ll see if my local pharmacy sell them.

No. I’m a surgeon and I wouldn’t cancel an operation because a patient had a cough 2 weeks out. We operate on people with horrendous copd and lung issues. Believe me anaesthetists are wizards and a cough won’t stop them

If you’re actively unwell on the day/on abx they’ll cancel but don’t panic yet, still long time to go. Keep yourself warm and hydrated! Fingers crossed for you.

for assurance if you do get cancelled on the day for being unwell you won’t go to the back of the list etc, they’ll likely fit you back in within 4-6 weeks! X

two weeks is plenty of time to recover from a minor illness.

Definitely mention it at the preassessment appointment so they can have a think about whether to listen to your chest etc. If you're unwell on the day then that may well mean postponing (and postponing for a chest infection usually needs 4-6 weeks to recover before being listed again). Knee replacements are routinely done without sedation - if people are snorers/get reflux/are phlegmmy it's usually best to skip the sedation (take some headphones and music). Anaesthetists are wizards and used to people with grotty chests where that is their usually baseline. We do sometimes anaesthetise people with active chest infections but only where the risk of not doing the procedure is greater than the risk of doing it, and that wouldn't be the case for an elective knee replacement, even under spinal anaesthetic.

fingers crossed it'll all settle down in time.

Thanks for these reassurances, I have now developed some cold symptoms but hopefully in two weeks they should clear up. I am going privately so won’t have to wait too long if it is cancelled but the plan was to have my right knee done on the 16th December and my left knee 6 to 8 weeks later. My goal is to be walking at my sone wedding on 4th May without sticks! If the first op is delayed, that won’t happen but there is nothing I can do about it now.