My Spine - Cervical
The theatre
When you are taken into the operating theatre, your anaesthetist will prepare
you for your anaesthetic. Several people will be there, including your anaes-
thetist and the anaesthetic assistant. All the checks you have just been through
will be repeated once again.
To monitor you during your operation, your anaesthetist will attach you to
machines to monitor:
Your heart: self-adhesive patches will be placed on your chest (electrocardio-
gram or ECG).
Your blood pressure: a blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm.
The oxygen level in your blood: a soft rubber hood will be placed on your fin-
ger (pulse oximeter).
Setting up your cannula
Your anaesthetist will need to administer drugs into a vein. A needle will be
used to put a thin plastic tube (a cannula) into a vein in the back of your hand
or arm. This is taped down to prevent it from slipping out. A special bag of
sterile water with added salt or sugar (a drip) will be connected to the cannula.
What happens during a general anaesthetic?
Before starting the anaesthetic, you may be given oxygen through a face
mask. This will be the last thing you remember before waking up. For some
operations the anaesthetist will place a breathing tube down your windpipe
(trachea) once you are unconscious. You will not be aware of this tube being
used.
You will wake up in the recovery room where you will be looked after by
trained staff. You may have an oxygen mask on at first.
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