were you ever sick in op?

[galactica2001]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Was any of you guys&gals ever sick in the operating room? 😀
I'm starting with some surgical practice (basically getting around the surgeries assisting and learning some basic sewing) this summer and it happened to me twice. It was very hot both times and I was totally dehydrated as well. The first time (and my first time in op) I felt my blood pressure drop and I almost dropped to the floor 🙁 I'm totally ashamed and baffled...Now, I'm not the faint-when-see-blood type 🙄 and there wasn't much blood to see anyhow...not yet. It's just SO difficult to BREATHE under the mask, esp.when it's awfully hot and if you're wearing the coat it's even worse. I'm a bit sensitive to hot temp.by nature. And the mask, coat, cap, gloves have a disgusting smell.... (much worse than blood and tissues... 🙄 )
After that incident, I was able to assist the whole op (lots of blood, about 6 hours) and I was allright the whole time. 🙂

Now, does that ever happen to any surgeon at one time or another? I mean - is there a trick to avoid this kind of embarrassing thing or are all surgeons allright at all times no matter what?
How are you not sick in op when it's hot and stuffy?
Do you have to eat a lot in the morning, drink liters of water or what? I like surgery a lot (lot lot) and it would be just nasty if I should rule it out because of something as stupid as this.

thx a lot 👍

 

[primadonna22274]

I had to scrub out 3 times my first day in CT surgery. Of course, this was my first exposure to the OR ever--I was soooooo woozy. But the docs and nurses were very kind and gracious and kept letting me scrub back in when I felt better.
On the 2nd day I was fine. That very day the surgeon said, "Here Lisa, hold the heart"...OMG, the feeling of a beating heart in your hands--that's something truly amazing!
I did have trouble later that rotation when I had a bad head cold and a fever. There's not much more miserable than being totally gloved & gowned & masked with a fever and a runny nose. Ick.
It's not so bad. You'll be fine.
I did find it helped to have something in my mouth--chewing gum usually--to keep from getting too dry during a 5 hr CABG x 3-4 + aortic valve repair. That's a looooonnnnnnggggg surgery.
Lisa

Was any of you guys&gals ever sick in the operating room? 😀
I'm starting with some surgical practice (basically getting around the surgeries assisting and learning some basic sewing) this summer and it happened to me twice. It was very hot both times and I was totally dehydrated as well. The first time (and my first time in op) I felt my blood pressure drop and I almost dropped to the floor 🙁 I'm totally ashamed and baffled...Now, I'm not the faint-when-see-blood type 🙄 and there wasn't much blood to see anyhow...not yet. It's just SO difficult to BREATHE under the mask, esp.when it's awfully hot and if you're wearing the coat it's even worse. I'm a bit sensitive to hot temp.by nature. And the mask, coat, cap, gloves have a disgusting smell.... (much worse than blood and tissues... 🙄 )
After that incident, I was able to assist the whole op (lots of blood, about 6 hours) and I was allright the whole time. 🙂

Now, does that ever happen to any surgeon at one time or another? I mean - is there a trick to avoid this kind of embarrassing thing or are all surgeons allright at all times no matter what?
How are you not sick in op when it's hot and stuffy?
Do you have to eat a lot in the morning, drink liters of water or what? I like surgery a lot (lot lot) and it would be just nasty if I should rule it out because of something as stupid as this.

thx a lot 👍

 

[doc05]

I had to scrub out 3 times my first day in CT surgery. Of course, this was my first exposure to the OR ever--I was soooooo woozy. But the docs and nurses were very kind and gracious and kept letting me scrub back in when I felt better.
On the 2nd day I was fine. That very day the surgeon said, "Here Lisa, hold the heart"...OMG, the feeling of a beating heart in your hands--that's something truly amazing!
I did have trouble later that rotation when I had a bad head cold and a fever. There's not much more miserable than being totally gloved & gowned & masked with a fever and a runny nose. Ick.
It's not so bad. You'll be fine.
I did find it helped to have something in my mouth--chewing gum usually--to keep from getting too dry during a 5 hr CABG x 3-4 + aortic valve repair. That's a looooonnnnnnggggg surgery.
Lisa

you shouldn't be chewing gum in the OR.

 

[primadonna22274]

If you're masked it doesn't matter.
L.

you shouldn't be chewing gum in the OR.

 

[primadonna22274]

p.s. not as if I'm dropping junior mints into the chest cavity.....
😉

If you're masked it doesn't matter.
L.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Nearly everyone has gotten ill in the OR at one time or another. It may be a simple vasovagal reaction (especially the first time in the OR), dehydration or a true illness. During medical school I had to scrub out of a facelift as my migraine started getting so bad that I became diaphoretic and nauseated. I made it just to the scrub sink to throw up (it was a nice private hospital; the nurses gave me the royal treatment). I've had a few other incidences as well - usually when I'm ill or stressed, and in a hot room, dehydrated. Do drink before a case, but not a lot...nothing worse than needing to pee and not being able to.

 

[LovelyRita]

Sounds dumb but I find that doing breathing exercises help too. Deep breaths from your belly open up your diaphragm and increase blood flow back to your heart. (God, I'm such a DO 🙄 ) And drink plenty of fluids, even if its sips from the water fountain.

 

[traumasurgeon]

Don't feel guilty. It is an involuntary vasovagal response. But it helps to make sure you have breakfast or lunch and you are well hydrated. If its hot, try not to wear a t-shirt underneath your scrubs, thats one less layer of clothing. If its a trauma or burn case and you know the room is going to be sweltering hot, make sure you drink alot of water before scrubing. It also helps to be actively involved in the case. Ask questions, suck, cut, something. If you still are woozy and you have to scrub out, don't sweat it. Even if they laugh, there are many surgeons who have had this happen to them at one point or another.

 

[Smurfette]

I've had to scrub out a few times...always b/c I was feeling a little iffy that day to begin with, and then putting on a mask and gown made it hard to breathe, and if the room was warm...well, you start feeling vasovagal. As long as you tell the OR staff you aren't feeling well and need to de-scrub, they are usually extremely nice about it (esp since you didn't contaminate the field by passing out and you warned them before you became a second patient for them to worry about). I've never heard any surgical staff mock anyone for it (although fellow med students are another story).

 

[galactica2001]

thanks everyone, I feel so much better now... 👍
I 've noticed too that if I just stand there and hold sth I get dizzy very quickly, but if I'm sewing someone up it's a different thing all together

 

[SteadyEddy]

Maybe to put it better...don't get caught chewing gum in the OR. I think it just looks bad in the eyes of the attendings.

p.s. not as if I'm dropping junior mints into the chest cavity.....
😉

 

[LaCirujana]

Maybe to put it better...don't get caught chewing gum in the OR. I think it just looks bad in the eyes of the attendings.

I pretty much always chew gum in the OR. I seem to operate better--I think it helps my concentration. Some of my attendings also chew gum, so I don't think they're about to get on my case for doing it.

 

[Vincristine]

you shouldn't be chewing gum in the OR.

Most people I know chew gum in the OR.

A friend was getting beaten up on her surgery rotation, was very sick (cold) and wasn't released from the OR. Her chief made the circulator put a cough drop in her mouth so she'd be quieter.

I have to have gum otherwise my breath gets so nasty and I start to smell it. Even if I stop chewing it for a while it's in my mouth for later.

I've never been told no to chew gum. It's certainly better than sneezing, and you can't even help that.

 

[Dire Straits]

only the weak feel weak in the OR.

😳

 

[SocialistMD]

I have to have gum otherwise my breath gets so nasty and I start to smell it.

You may have a cavity.

 

[kc361]

I had the same problem on the first day of my surgery rotation. It was *not* the first time I'd been in the OR, but I suddenly felt diaphoretic and nauseous, and my vision started to blur. I think this happens to everyone at some time or another.

A couple of things that helped: (1) make sure you eat something before you head into the OR! (2) drink water beforehand (3) wear multiple pairs of socks and knee-length stockings if you can. And shift from side to side so you don't get venous stasis in your feet and ultimately pass out. The stockings saved me from further presyncopal episodes, and I'll tell ya, I was grateful for the extra cushioning on my feet when I had to observe a Whipple!

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I wore support socks when I was on rotations that required lots of standing like surgery and Ob. Those, combined with my Dansko's proved to be a heaven sent for my back and knees. Being comfortable probably makes it less likely that one of these sick episodes will happen. Good luck!

 

[TheThroat]

"Do drink before a case, but not a lot...nothing worse than needing to pee and not being able to."

KC: so what do you have, a whiskey-sour? GnT? I usually sip a little scotch and water before a neck dissection. It always calms me down!

Only time I felt a little sick was during my med school autopsy. Man, dead belly reaks!