I'm having surgery and I have some questions!!

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hi All,I am having the lapband surgery in a week. Has anyone worked in the OR with this type of surgery? My concern is if I will be naked on the table. Exactly what is the prep for this type of surgery? Does the gown completely come off and then they dress you how they need to? I know everyone is professional (I hope) and everyone has seen a naked body, etc, etc. it doesn't make me feel better. Do you make an effort to cover people up? It's really bothering me that I'm going to be naked for all to see... Plus my doctor is hot! Sucks!

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
For open heart surgery you are naked on the gurney for at least an hour. The surgeons assistant will map you leg to find a proper vein for the grafts. Then you will be relieved of all your hair from the neck down, via clippers. Then two coats of chlorhexidine will be applied to that same area. Then you will be catherized and intubated. Even moving at warp speed, this will last about an hour. During the entire time you will be completely naked for the, approximately, nine members of the surgical team. That's just the way it is folks. You have a right to know.

A. This thread is 7 years old

B. That's not how it is at all facilities, and i would certainly hope none. There is no reason for a patient to be naked for vein mapping- all that needs uncovered is the leg. My facility doesn't even do vein mapping unless there are known issues. Yes, hair is removed from neck down, however, that also doesn't require full nudity- simply expose the area being worked on and keep the others covered while behind a curtain to provide privacy. Patients can be kept covered in the OR while intubated, briefly exposed for foley placement, and then recovered while any invasive lines are placed. The only time a patient is fully exposed at my facility is during the sterile surgical prep, as covering would contaminate. This prep only takes about 7 minutes, including the 3 minute dry time required of the prep solution. The patient is then covered by drapes. A conscientious staff will ensure that the patient is covered as much as possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Rose_Queen:

You forgot the time to do the scrub and the time for the second coat of paint. Years ago the patient was fully awake for the scrub and painting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Rose_Queen:

You forgot the time to do the scrub and the time for the second coat of paint. Years ago the patient was fully awake for the scrub and painting.

We don't scrub in the OR (only in preop and as I stated previously the person doing the CHG scrub in preop only needs to expose the area being worked on at that time) and Chloraprep doesn't require a second paint. Nor have our patients ever been awake for the prep.

I'm beginning to question what kind of OR you work in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This guy's OR maybe?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27679[/ATTACH]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment