What are the steps?

[alex c.]

Hi everyone, my surgery is tomorrow at 8 am. I am supposed to be there at 5:30 am. Can anyone tell me what I'm going to go through to get me ready for surgery? As in stepy by step. I've never had surgery before, and I just want to know what to expect. Not knowing what the heck is going on is scary.

Thanks
Alex

 

[Mary]

If you've had your pre-op admission testing, then I think they will start an IV, get you in a hospital gown, and that's about all.

I had read on VR about washing with a "special" soap before being admitted, but I don't remember that. I was admitted the day before for a heart cath, and they shaved and prepped me for that, but I don't remember any other special preparations.

Right before they took me down to the OR, they gave me a pill to relax me; when we got to the holding area, the anesthesiologist gave me a shot in the IV lock, and I was out like a light.

It really was no big deal . . . I think the prep was less than what I had for childbirth x 5.

 

[Kate]

Hi Alex!
I imagine every hospital has a slightly different routine, but I can tell you what happened with me. I showed up very early in the morning, checked in, waited around for awhile in a special waiting room with my family and other surgical patients. When my name was called, I was brought to a room with a gurney and instructed to put on a johnnie, hair net / hat thing, and little booties. I laid down on the gurney and my family had a chance to say a few last words to me. Then a nurse did some basic things (checked my temp, blood pressure, asked if I was nervous, etc.). The hardest thing was having to give up my glasses because I'm blind as a bat without them! After waiting awhile, I was wheeled on the gurney what felt like a very long way to the operating room, which was very cold and bright. I was moved to a table where my arms were stretched out on either side, the anesthesiologist gave me a shot and I woke up in ICU.

I hope you have a very uneventful surgery and recovery. Please let us know how it goes! Kate

 

[kodi]

Yep, everywhere must be different.
I had my pre-op done two days prior. It was supposed to be one day but my surgery was delayed one day. Anyway day of surgery I showed up at 6:00AM, surgery to be about 8:30. Took me into a room, put on my gown and booties, did some basic checking (HR, BP, etc) and shaved my chest. I then got a short visit with my family then they wheeled me away to another prep room where they inserted the IV and the A-line (arterial IV) and when the time came, they wheeled me to the OR. Can't remember much after that except saying good morning to the surgeon. The first thing afterwards was seeing my daughter and my best friend standing next to me.

Good luck, things are going to be fine. I'm 68 and this was only the second surgery I had in my life and if we're not nervous or a little scared, then we're not normal.

 

[alex c.]

Thanks everyone! Yes, I'm sure each hospital is different. I went in for my pre-op last week. They gave me a antibacterial soap and told me to shower with 1/2 of it the night before. If I wanted, 1/2 the morning of, but that would be at 4:45 am and I don't know if I'd do that. I also have to put a little bit of antibacterial cream in my nostrils tonight and in the morning.

So the hours before the surgery, I can expect to go in, change, shaven (which will take 2 secs) maybe get a happy pill, Iv, then anesthesia? I will be out for the cath and all the tubes right? This sounds selfish, but I don't want my family to see me in that robe and all before the surgery. I don't want to see all the worry on their faces.

 

[Farid]

....They gave me a antibacterial soap and told me to shower with 1/2 of it the night before. If I wanted, 1/2 the morning of, but that would be at 4:45 am and I don't know if I'd do that. I also have to put a little bit of antibacterial cream in my nostrils tonight and in the morning.

....

alex c.,
alex c.]....I had my pre admission on 11/13. They gave me the antibacterial soap and cream and told me to be there at 6:00AM (11/21).

Best of luck. We’ll be praying for you.

 

[Mary]

Thanks everyone! Yes, I'm sure each hospital is different. I went in for my pre-op last week. They gave me a antibacterial soap and told me to shower with 1/2 of it the night before. If I wanted, 1/2 the morning of, but that would be at 4:45 am and I don't know if I'd do that. I also have to put a little bit of antibacterial cream in my nostrils tonight and in the morning.

So the hours before the surgery, I can expect to go in, change, shaven (which will take 2 secs) maybe get a happy pill, Iv, then anesthesia? I will be out for the cath and all the tubes right? This sounds selfish, but I don't want my family to see me in that robe and all before the surgery. I don't want to see all the worry on their faces.

Alex,
I think they might let your family see you right before they take you down, and that would be with your gown and robe on. I doubt that you'll appear "sick" to them, and I would welcome the opportunity for one last quick good-bye . . . but that's me!
I am surprised that they're performing the cath before surgery; I thought it was normally done the day, or days, before, but I guess every place does things differently.
Good luck and don't sweat the small stuff. We'll be waiting to hear your experience when you get home.
Mary

 

[Adrienne]

I was admitted the afternoon before which is incredible considering we have a public health system and are usually short of beds!! As much as I hate sleeping in the hospital, I preferred being there the night before instead of having to get to the hospital before the crack of dawn. In any case, the evening before, they shaved me (although in the end they seemed to use an artery in my wrist for a certain catheter). I had to shower and use the antibacterial soap. I also had to wash my hair even though I told the nurses I had just washed it that morning. They said that things like conditioners and mousse can cause little particles to get into the air. That night they gave me an Ativan to sleep. In the morning about 45 minutes before everything was supposed to start, they gave me a shot of morphine in the rear end, and after a few minutes I don't remember anything until I was awakened that evening by my husband telling me the operation had been a success and the surgeon had been able to repair my mitral valve. I was still intubated so I gave the "thumbs up" sign. The surgeon then gave me a few more details and I gave him the same "thumbs up" sign. By the way, although I am a very nervous person, I was not at all agitated by the intubation. First of all, I only stayed awake about 5 minutes, but also, I had kind of practised the scene in my mind beforehand.

Lots of luck. I'm sure everything will be fine!

 

[alex c.]

I am surprised that they're performing the cath before surgery; I thought it was normally done the day, or days, before, but I guess every place does things differently.

Thanks Mary, what exactly is a catheter? I thought it was like a tube that went into your bladder and collected urine? So sometimes it's inserted days before surgery? Is the tube pretty small? I read Adrienne had it in a vein from her wrist? Sorry, I'm confused. I know nothing of this medical stuff.

 

[Susan BAV]

The day before my surgery, they had my husband and I travel up to the hospital for pre-op stuff and they showed me how to use the plastic breathing spirometer again, and they checked a few basic things and did blood tests and urine tests (with a catheter) and gave me some instructions and the liquid soap to bathe with. We stayed that night in a little hotel right next to the hospital and I had to even wash my hair with the antibacterial-whatever soap, and especially where the incisions were going. So, read the directions carefully and follow them; you will probably need to wash your chest down to near your belly button, because you'll have drain holes too. Also, wash your neck and arms real well with that soap, or as you are instructed, because of IV's and some huge needle IV thing they'll probably put in your neck for a few days -- I forget what it's called.

If there is a next AVR for me, I will ask for Verced (Versed?) so I will NOT remember waking up after the surgery with the vent tube down my throat. Also, when they come to pull your drain tubes later, I highly recommend for you to ask them if it's going to hurt and then ask for pain medication. I read about that here and asked them for the pain medication and it didn't hurt but some other Valvers really could have used some pain medication.

I'm not sure how they got me to sleep, must have been something in the IV; I really don't remember.

Take big deep breaths and tell yourself to be happy and calm. I prayed a lot also. When you wake up try to be really patient. You'll be super thirsty after your surgery and after the vent is out and they'll only give you a few ice chips. Hang in there. You won't die of thirst. But if you insist on something to drink, you may throw up like some guy next to me did. That would be extremely unpleasant and painful, following heart surgery.

I had some kind of complication with my kidneys -- I don't really know what it was but they thought my bp was too low (but I think it could have been a catheter problem) so I was in the ICU or whatever for three extra days -- so they didn't get me up out of bed until the fourth day. Most of the Valvers, though, were gotten up later the same day as their surgery or the very next day, I think. Go slow and do all the therapy and exercises they give you and you'll probably be excited and really happy about how much better you're going to feel, every single day!

 

[Nancy]

Alex-

I want to wish you well for your surgery. As the wife of the heart patient, I would like you to reconsider your wish to not have your family see you before the surgery.

They will be very nervous about it and will have a LONG wait while the surgeon does his stuff. They will want to see you prior to surgery and give you a hug and a kiss. I think they would suffer if they did not see you prior.

But then, you know your family the best.

 

[Nan]

Hi Alex, there are several kinds of catheterizations. One is the urinary tract one which you mentioned, one of the other kinds that most of us have prior to surgery is a cardiac catheterization where they put a catheter into an artery (usually in the groin, sometimes in the arm) and run it up to your heart and take a look at your coronary arteries and your heart directly. There are other kinds also. Did you already have a cardiac cath?

But you almost certainly likely be out when they put in all of the tubes, urinary catheter and others. There are usually regular IV's and drainage tubes in your chest and temporary pacemaker wires. They are not usually put in before hand.

Each hospital is different, but none of them want their patients to be in pain or uncomfortable if it can be avoided.

Good luck

 

[Phyllis]

This sounds selfish, but I don't want my family to see me in that robe and all before the surgery. I don't want to see all the worry on their faces.

Alex, like Nancy, I really think you should reconsider seeing your family before surgery. When I walked into the pre-op area to see Dick, he broke out with the biggest smile and said, "here comes my wife!". I had been told that he would be in his room until 6:30 and they took him down to pre-op at 6, so I was a little late getting there. It was reassuring for both of us to see each other and at that point, he only had an IV in his arm.

 

[Kate]

Hi Alex!
I think the confusion stems from there being two types of catheters (and probably more!) Many of us have had a heart catheter done before surgery in which a very thin tube with a small camera-like thin is inserted into an artery - either in the arm or more often in the groing - and snaked up to the heart to get a better picture of what is going on, specifically related to the state of one's coronary arteries. The other type is, of course, the kind you are referring to that will take care of urine during surgery and afterwards. Hope this helps clear up the confusion! Kate

 

[alex c.]

Thank you all for your advice! I will reconsider meeting with my family before the surgery. I haven't had any kind of catheter. When I went for my pre-op, all they did was take some blood samples, a chest x-ray and give me the soap and instructions. The told me about the drain tubes and showed me that meter thing you blow in. I will ask about that Versed stuff. I'd rather not remember the breathing tube if possible. So, you can walk around and all with the heart catheter in you??

 

[temp69]

Alex: Not much for you to do, except follow surgeon's guidelines for washing, etc. You'll go under, and come up and be happy it's over, and that's about it. So the most challenging thing is not to fret toooooo much. You'll do just fine.

 

[Adrienne]

I decided to do some research about the catheter that I had in my wrist which I could have had in my groin since I really didn't know what it was for. Below is a paragraph that I copied from the website I found:

"Another special catheter ? an arterial line ? is placed in an artery to monitor blood pressure during and after surgery. This special catheter is used to draw samples of blood to obtain various laboratory values and usually is placed in the wrist or the groin. A nasogastric (NG) tube is placed in the nose and gently guided down to the stomach after the arterial line is in place. An empty stomach will continue to produce juices, which can lead to nausea and vomiting. The NG tube empties the stomach and prevents vomiting. Finally, a Foley catheter is placed in the patient?s urinary opening and guided gently to the bladder. This catheter is attached to a device that drains and measures the urine produced during surgery. This process may take from 60 to 90 minutes."

I just learned something myself!

 

[Nan]

Hi Alex, just a quick response about the heart catheter. No you can't walk around with it in you... If they do one, they put it in , take a look at everything and then take it out immediately. Hope that this is clearer.

Other catheters can be left in for a while...like the urinary catheter.

 

[WayneGM]

Hi Alex,

Like you I had never had surgery before, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined.

My wife was with me pretty much until they wheeled me in for the surgery. After I checked in, they had me undress and get into the hospital gear. I had been pre-admited days before so I don't recall any tests. Then we went into a waiting area until they came for me to shower with the special soap. Then I justed waited on a bed, with my wife sitting beside me, until I was ready for surgery. They inserted the IV lock in my hand but nothing else at that point. Then they came to take me to surgery and my wife and I parted.

Once wheeled into surgery, which was bright but cold, they painted me down with antiseptic and they covered me with nice warm blankets. The surgical team all introduced themselves and talked to me while they did stuff around me. Then the anesthesiologist placed the mask on my face and I was asked to count backwards. I don't remember a thing after that until I woke up in the recovery room. It literally felt like a split second between when I was counting backwards and when I awoke. No memory of anything in between. No recollection of the breathing tube being put in or removed. No recollection of them inserting the urinary cath, the drain tubes, or the pacemaker either although I obviously did wake up to them and had them for a couple of days post-op. Essentially, the surgery was all over before I knew it!

Best wishes for tomorrow.

 

[KMS]

Thought you'd appreciate this

Thought you'd appreciate this

Alex -

Regarding the heart catheter...

I thought I was incredibly prepared going in for my OHS in May -- thanks to VR.com. And I was. The heart cath, however, was something I didn't really research, but something I knew I would have the day before my surgery. I just assumed it was a pretty minor procedure -- nobody really said much about it.

That mornng, my husband and I showed up at the hospital, they set me up in a curtained-off area and they prepped me (gown, booties, started an IV). A very nice male nurse came in and said it was time for the catheterization. He said, "Let's go". I said, "We're not doing it here?" "Nope", he said.

"Can my husband come with me?" "Nope."

"Can I bring a newspaper?" I asked, thinking I might need something to distract me, as they did their thing. The guy looked at me, smiled, and said, "Honey, the only thing that's going down the hall is you and me."

So off we went, into an operating room where everyone was prepped for what looked like surgery. I laid down, really in shock that it looked like a major procedure. They had me count back from 10 and I was out at 8. I woke up, feeling like I'd just closed my eyes and they said it was all over (it actually took about 30 minutes).

Bottom line: it's a pretty big procedure, but you're out for it. It will be over before you know it. My OHS the next day went just as smoothly.

We'll be thinking of you tomorrow, Alex. You'll do just fine.

Warmest regards,

Kristine