On the day of surgery, you will meet with the medical team involved in your surgery.
This will include:
The operating room can be an overwhelming place. The room will likely be cold. This
is to minimize bacterial growth. It will have a lot of technical equipment. You may
see equipment such as:
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Operating table. This is in the center of the room. It can be raised, lowered, and tilted in many
directions.
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Operating room lights. These allow for bright light without shadows during surgery.
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Monitor screens. You will be connected to various monitors. These keep track of your vital signs.
These include your heart rate, oxygen saturation level, and blood pressure.
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Ventilator. This is a breathing machine. It stands by the head of the operating table. If your
procedure is done with general anesthesia, you will have a ventilator to breathe for
you during the procedure. It moves oxygen and air in and out of your lungs.
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Sterile instruments. These are small tools to be used during surgery. They are arranged on a stainless
steel table.
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Video screen. If the procedure is laparoscopic, there will be a video screen for the surgeon to
be able to see the area of the surgery.
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Electrocautery machine. This is to control bleeding.
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Other equipment. If needed, other specialized equipment may be brought into the room. For example,
your team may use a heart-lung machine during heart surgery.