Home  | About Us  | News & Events  | Contact Us  | Directions

Health Information Services Physicians Referring Physicians Hospitals and Clinics Academic Affiliates Patients & Visitors Faculty & Staff

Ellis Fischel Cancer Center 115 Business Loop 70 W. Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 882-2100 About Clinical Trials Directions Disease Sites Ellis Fischel Gala Ellis Magazine Email a Patient E-mail Us Employment Gift Shop Guest House Index A to Z Make a Gift Margaret Proctor Mulligan     Breast Health Center Phone Numbers Physician Information Support Groups Treatment Programs Submit Comments

Operating Room

When it is time to go to the operating room you will be transported on the stretcher from Presurgery. Once you are in the room, the circulating R.N. will cover you with a warm blanket and assist you to move from your stretcher to the O.R. bed.

If you are to receive general anesthesia at this point several people will be working with you and talking to you before you receive the drugs that will produce your anesthesia, that is "put you to sleep". Anesthesia will be positioning your arms and head. The R.N. will be putting a safety strap across your thighs. The R.N. may put pneumatic socks on your feet to promote blood return from your legs while you are asleep.

You may not remember any of this. Many patients that receive general anesthesia are given medications in Presurgery to help them relax. Sometimes these drugs cause total or partial amnesia of events that occurred. After surgery you may have only a sketchy memory of what took place after you left the Presurgery area.

One important thing to note, you will be "asleep" shortly after you are on the O.R. bed. All further preparation will be done after you are asleep.

If you are having a minor procedure done with local anesthesia and sedation you come to the O.R. in the same manner as a patient for a major procedure. Usually patients scheduled for minor procedures are not sedated until the procedure is about to begin. Again the sedation may produce some amnesia, so you may not remember much about your experience.