You will be brought from the ward to the anaesthesia room of the operating theatre in a patient trolley accompanied by a nurse. A member of staff from the theatre will ask you a number of questions from a check list. You will notice that most of these questions enquire about information that you may have already provided previously. Do not be annoyed; the purpose of this checklist is to ensure that no preparations or precautions necessary for the knee replacement surgery have been overlooked! You will then be wheeled into the anaesthesia room.
The Anaesthesia room
The Anesthesia room provides a quiet environment for the anaesthetist to work in. You will see your anaesthetist again who may have a junior doctor with him. There will also be another member of staff called the ODA or Operating Department Assistant who is there to help the anaesthetist. All the medicines and tools required to 'put you to sleep' for the operation are present in this room. This is where the anaesthetist and his assistants will give you a general anaesthetic.
To start with, three sticky plastic patches will be applied to your chest. These patches are connected to a heart tracing machine (ECG) and will allow the anaesthetist to continously monitor your heart activity during the surgery. A small clamp, much like a clothes pin will be attached to your finger. This device measure the amount of oxygen getting into your blood. A needle will be inserted into a vein, usually on the forearm so that various drugs can be injected directly into the vein without having to puncture the skin each time. The anaesthetist will place a breathing mask on your face and before long you will find yourself drifting off to sleep. Other monitoring equipment may then be applied. After you have been 'put-out', a breathing tube will be inserted into the throat area which will allow oxygen and other gases for the anaesthesia to go to your lungs.
A rubber tube is then inserted into your bladder so that the activity of your kidneys can be checked continously during the operation. This tube is left in place for about 24 hours that you do not have to worry about passing water and emptying your bladder after the operation. Once all this has been accomplished you will be wheeled into the operation theatre.