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Discussion

SIlly question

My mom just had big big operation (pancreaticoduodenectomy plus extra stuff) ... They had her in for over 8hrs. We knew it would be that long..

Do you all (any one in the OR ie surgeon, tec nurses ect) have to train your bladders? DO you just leave if nature calls???

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    • Featured Replies

    There is definitely an element of bladder training involved, but yes- relief is provided for long cases!

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    Depends on the case. I've been scrubbed in a 5.5 hour joint revision with no relief. It's easier for a circulator to run out than the person scrubbed. The last thing I do before I scrub into any case is go to the rest room. You just never know:p

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    • Author

    Thanks.

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    • Author
    Depends on the case. I've been scrubbed in a 5.5 hour joint revision with no relief.

    Wow that is a long time.

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    Wow that is a long time.

    Have you never gone 5.5 hrs on the floor without peeing? I once worked a 16 hr shift and left the hospital thinking "wow, I didn't eat anything, drink anything or pee today." I didn't eat or pee for 9 hours today.

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    Yup. It happens a lot. I normally don't pee for between 8-12 hours at a time. Not a good thing. But just the way it is.

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    • Author

    I work in an dr office. When I worked at LTC we got at least one break before that I was an MA

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    I've wondered this before. What about snacks or drinks during those horribly long cases? Does someone just stay in the OR and watch the patient? Does anesthesia have a backup?

    I only had one day in OR in school and it wasn't great.

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    Oh and I know no snacks or drinks in the OR....just FYI

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    I've wondered this before. What about snacks or drinks during those horribly long cases? Does someone just stay in the OR and watch the patient? Does anesthesia have a backup?

    I only had one day in OR in school and it wasn't great.

    Anesthesia providers will come and give their co-workers breaks and the same for the circulator and usually the scrub. On a huge case the surgeon will probably have an assistant which will allow him/her to also run to the bathroom and get a drink (this depends on the surgeon and the procedure, they are the least likely to leave). This all doesn't happen at the same time obviously.

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    • Admin
    I've wondered this before. What about snacks or drinks during those horribly long cases? Does someone just stay in the OR and watch the patient? Does anesthesia have a backup?

    I only had one day in OR in school and it wasn't great.

    I have, on the rare occasion, slipped a straw inside someone's mask so that they can get a drink of Gatorade. This is pretty much restricted to the surgeon and the PA. The scrubs will occasionally slip out if needed or be relieved if it's still day shift with extra people around. The circulator will do the same.

    Working in cardiac surgery, we tend to have the longest cases. During day shift, we do provide lunch breaks to all staff, a morning break to the circulator, and the scrubs will set up and then take a break while anesthesia is inserting lines. This way, they have the opportunity to get a snack, drink, and potty break right before scrubbing in. When it comes to after hours (call back time with only the call team working), it's do what you can if you can. On rare occasions, we'll have a surgeon or PA break while we're rewarming and there's nothing else they can do at that point, but they are always very very close should the brown stuff hit the fan.

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    • Admin
    Oh and I know no snacks or drinks in the OR....just FYI

    Rules were made to be broken...

    Especially when the team has been working for over 20 hours straight with no breaks and the surgeon is going to pass out unless someone sneaks a Gatorade with a straw under their mask.

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