Surgical Operation

A surgical operation consists in opening the skin or the tissue that covers an organ to get access to the inner part of the organism.

While you are in your room, the nurses will give you a coverall that you should wear to go down to the operating theatre. The area of the operating theatre has been sterilized through the use of a product which is generally iodized in yellow color. At times, a pre-medication is administered, that is an intra-muscular anxiolytic injection. Then you will find your way to the operating theatre. The anesthetist will proceed with a final check-up before putting you to ‘sleep’. You will be given a perfusion in the arm and you will receive and injection of anesthetic substance. The process of falling asleep takes less than 5 seconds. You are generally provided with a tube into your mouth to help you to breathe if necessary. Electrodes will be set up to monitor the heart. The operation can then be conducted.

The area to be under surgery is again disinfected in a very minute fashion.

Various types of blue or green linens will be in place through successive layers and fixedly applied to circumscribe the surgical zone, usually called “the surgical field”.

The surgeon takes his landmarks and carries out the first incision.

Around him/her, there are surgical aides and the health care workers in the operating theatre ready to carry out all required tasks. Each of them will be given a specific role and acts in accordance with the surgeon’s instructions.

Once the operation is over, the surgical cut will be stitched step by step. The threads to be used can easily be absorbed. Superficial threads only cannot be absorbed.

Sometimes, drains (some kind of pipes or blades) are left in the surgical cut so that blood and internal liquids (Inflammatory liquids, bile, spleen, lymph, etc.) can be evacuated. Once the definitive stitching has been carried out, the patient will be taken to the wake-up room. We will gradually rid him/her of the tube in the mouth and the urinary helping device, his/her electrodes, and then the perfusion.