Restraints during surgery

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Specializes in Long term care; L & D.

I recently had eye surgery under conscious sedation. As I was being prepped in the OR, I was shocked to have a nurse on either side of me wrap my wrists around with gauze and fasten my arms to the operating table.

I must have made some sound because I was told it was so I didn't lift my arms and interfere with the surgery. I was too drowsy to really object but now I am very upset about it.

I have only been in the OR while in nursing school and have only had one surgery before in my life, when I was a child. Is this a common practice? Can a patient object?

I feel very demeaned and violated to have been restrained like that. Plus it was very uncomfortable and made me feel extremely vulnerable. Maybe I am over reacting?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Sorry that you felt that way! I am sure that is not their intent. From what I understand, the most natural reaction when someone or something is coming at your eye is to either swat it away or rub your eye. I think they were more concerned with your (and their) safety than with making you feel uneasy....:wink2:

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Specializes in ER/ICU, CCL, EP.

Sorry it bothers you so much! Try to look at it as the staff protecting you instead of restraining you. I don't want to minimize your feelings at all, but I am glad you didn't reach for your eye during surgery.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, ICU.

Yes, this is a common practice, intended to prevent the possibility of the patient inadvertently injuring themselves or contaminating the sterile field.

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Specializes in Long term care; L & D.

Thanks so much for your sensitive replies!

I had a feeling it was just my personal reaction. Probably most people wouldn't have even noticed it. I know better than to interfere with the sterile field, but I guess under anesthesia you are not thinking like a nurse.

Of course, being neurotic and a control freak, even when in la-la land, it freaked me out! :chuckle

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Specializes in med-surg.

It seems like any uneasy feelings could have been avoided if they just explained to you ahead of time that this was a normal part of the procedure, and not catching you off guard like that.

I would have been spooked too...

Hope the surgery went well!

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Specializes in ICU.

sorry you felt like this but think it through....you were given sedation, altering your thought processes....not paralyzed but still able to move your extremities had they not been restrained. would you have preferred reaching out to grab the surgeon's hand while he worked on your eye because in your altered state you only knew that something was bothering you there? think about it......:smokin:

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

i have seen this every time i have seen a surgery. i had the opprotunity to see many a surgery in schooling; and i have always seen that practice. they have soft blue wriste restraints that they velco the arms in. safety for everyone involved. all around

-H-

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Specializes in Long term care; L & D.

I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you everyone.

I understand it was for safety sake, but I felt very out of control, so it was upsetting. I am blind in the eye they operated on, so I wouldn't have seen anything coming at me.

It seems like any uneasy feelings could have been avoided if they just explained to you ahead of time that this was a normal part of the procedure, and not catching you off guard like that.

I would have been spooked too...

Hope the surgery went well!

That is a great point, I really like to be prepared for things and I could have gotten used to the idea ahead of time.

And thanks so much for your good wishes, I think the surgery went well. The lids (upper and lower) on my blind eye were drooping, so I had reconstructive surgery (I lost my eye in an accident when I was a child).

Of course right now I look horrific, all bruised and swollen and I look in the mirror and think "what on earth have I done!". And I have to get a new prosthesis now to fit properly with the lids adjusted. But I think once the healing begins I will be happy with the results.

I am new to this site, but all the responses have been thoughtful. Thank you all so much.

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Actually, it's not just the worry about seeing something in your eye. You'd be amazed how many times people will reach up to scratch their arm, their head, their nose. You don't notice it until you are the nurse in the OR trying to keep the field sterile and forget to tie someone's arm down. The surgeons are not amused when this happens. Have even had people try to roll over because they forgot where they were and were "getting comfortable in bed".

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Specializes in Long term care; L & D.

Thank you to the member who sent me a private message. I appreciate the information. I haven't written enough posts to respond yet!!! :(

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Only time I have had consious sedation was for an egd (I think that is what it is called an upper endoscopy) a few months ago. Only thing I remember was waking up and reaching toward the tube they were shoving down my throat. lol. Before I got there I was out again. (I am guessing they may have pushed more meds or something.)

And if I were to have restraints on with out warning, I would be a little freaked.

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