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

[Tammy121]

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!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

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.

[JOETEE]

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.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

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.

[offlabel]

This guy's OR maybe?

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[Joann Flynn]

Rose_Queen said:

Even though you are asleep and will not know it, competent nurses will keep you covered as much as possible. At times that may not be possible, such as when inserting the foley, but exposure is limited to the time needed. Technically, the gown should come off as usually a forced-air warming blanket is used, and manufacturers state that there should be nothing between the blanket and skin. Also, drapes will cover all but the incision's area. Some doors with windows may also have blinds that you can request be closed. Nudity is nothing sexual or perverted to nurses. A professional nurse will listen to your concerns, respect your privacy, and not expose you more than needs to be. Not quite sure how your comment that your doctor is hot plays into the professionalism of nurses and surgeons. These are concerns that you should address with your surgeon and the specific facility you will be having surgery at. My comments are geared more towards my experience as an OR nurse.

 

[Joann Flynn]

Hi, I really wish this was the case for me. I had to have spinal fusion done, I also work in the hospital,so it was doubly worse for me. I had nothing on I know all about the prepping and drapping process but before that happens there is also the cleaning of the skin the dry time and all of that is done while your naked on the table. I still get very embarrassed and cry because you are anxious about the entire thing and no one wants to tell you that , I think if they would explain everything it would be easier, but no one wants to. Maybe they could it may ease patients anxiety about their procedure. My neuro Dr wanted nothing of it.

I just had my total knee done and had the complete opposite and they were both done at Penn.

Thanks