The Pre-Op Stuff Just for TEENS

The surgery is coming soon, so it must be time for all the tests and exams that you need before your surgery.  All of that is called the "Pre-op" tests and exam.  This page is all about what you need to know and what it all means.

What to expect: -Physical Examination -Health Questionare -Lab Work -Paperwork Prior to Surgery -Explaination of Procedure -Radiological Tests* -Evoked Potential Test** *Might be done at other time prior to pre-op date for some patients. **Some may not have this test at all.  Check with your physician.

Physical Exam

The top priority of any medical procedure is to keep the patient safe.  To make sure you are physically able to have the surgery, you will have to have a physical at the hospital or at a location affiliated with the hospital you are to have the surgery at.  It is nothing to fear really.  If you have ever had a physical for school or sports, it is practically the same.  In fact, some doctors call the pre-op exam a "mini-physical" because not all of the things you have done at a school or sports physical would be done at this physical exam. These are the basic things checked and how this is done at the pre-op exam:

Your reflexes are checked at the knee, ankle, wrist, and elbow.  This is done just like at any other physical with the little reflex mallet. Your pulse is taken at your wrist and your heart is listened to through a stethescope from your chest and back. Your breathing is listened to through the stethescope from your chest and back. Your blood pressure is taken with a blood pressure cuff from your arm. Something called "oxygen saturation" or commonly called by doctors and nurses as the "SATS" or the "Pulse Ox" is taken.  It is a painless and kind of fun test when a clip or electrode with tape is put on one of your fingers.  It has a red light on it, and it makes you look like "ET".  What this does is takes your pulse, sometimes how much air volume you breathe in and out, and the oxygen saturation.  This is a percentage out of 100 of how much oxygen is in your blood.  You will see this again when the surgery rolls around.  This test takes about as long, if not less than having your blood pressure taken. Your eyes, ears, nose, and throat are checked just like at the regular doctor. Other tests might be done depending on your doctor, hospital, state, or any other pre-existing conditions.

Usually, someone who will be on your surgical team will do the physical.  This might be the anesthesiologest, a resident from anestesiology, or someone else.  You might have to change into a gown for the exam, but not to worry.  Just rember two things:  These are trained professionals, and They have seen it all before!  Like I said before, there might be some other things that have to be done, so check with your doctor or hospital if you have any questions. Remember that the goal is to make sure you can physically take the surgery.  It is very imparative that this is done.  In most cases, the pre-op exam is scheduled no more than a month before your surgery so that the most accurate health information can be acquired.

Lab Work

Not everyone's favorite word, but very important.  The lab work up is usually done at the end or during the physical exam.  This, once again, is probably much like the lab work you might have had at a school or sports physical.  Still, it just looks for a lot more. The most uniform lab work that will be done is blood work.  Yeah, I am sure you are dreading this, but it is quite nessissary.  This is used to make sure that you are healthy enough to endure the surgery.  The amount of blood really will varry depending on your hospital.  Some people get just the finger prick, others have 4 or 5 tubes drawn.  Usually, however, the blood is drawn from the arm, and some tubes are taken.  In case you have never had this done, here is a time line thingy of what happens: -You will go into a special lab room, or it might be done in the same room that you had your physical exam in.  A nurse or a person from the lab usually will draw the blood. -You will be asked to relax one of your arms.  This means that you will just relax and let that arm go limp usuallly on an arm rest.  Let the palm of your hand face upward. -The person drawing the blood will put a tourniquet on your arm right above your elbow.  It looks like a big rubber band that someone already broke.  It is usually latex (like doctor's gloves) and is about a foot or so long.  The person taking the sample will put the tourniquet on you and tie it quite tight.  That is important, though, so that they can find your vein. -Pretty soon after the tourniquet is tightened, you will see all your veins below the tourniquet on that arm get really big and hard.  This is because the blood is being trapped in your veins by the tourniquet.  You should see a vein right in your elbow stick out by now, and that is where the blood will be taken.  Fun yet? -The person taking your blood will clean off your skin right over your vein.  You don't want to get an infection.  Those get nasty.  - Next, the person taking the sample will get the needle ready.  Usually, they use what is called a "butterfly needle" which is a very tiny needle with a tube following it.  It is called this because of a the small foam handle on the needle that looks like a butterfly.  The person will then tell you to squeeze your fist lightly.  Then, before you know it, the person will gently push the needle in.  Honestly, most people think the accual poke feels nothing like it seems like it would, and some rather have blood drawn this way over the finger prick. - The needle will pretty much stay in place (as long as you keep you arm still!).

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