My Spine - Lumbar
If a blood transfusion is considered, a sample of your blood will be taken and
sent away to the blood transfusion service where rigorous tests will be per-
formed to ensure that the correct type of blood is issued.
There may be technology available to salvage your own blood during the pro-
cedure and to re-transfuse it via a drip into your veins. It is also possible in
elective surgery to donate your own blood some time in advance if it is
thought that the procedure will cause large amounts of blood-loss.
A drainage pipe will usually be placed in the wound at the end of the opera-
tion and connected to a reservoir and the wound will be closed. This will
allow all excess blood to drain away. Following the operation, you will be
taken to the recovery room to recover from your anaesthetic.
In the recovery room you may have an oxygen mask on your face. Do not be
alarmed and try and be as relaxed as possible. You will have a catheter in your
bladder and this may make the bladder feel uncomfortable. Do not worry,
your bladder should not be full and urine will flow automatically into a
drainage bag.
Following your stay in the recovery room you will be moved to the ward and
the nursing staff will monitor your recovery, assist with your rehabilitation
and administer analgesia for any discomfort that you may experience.
What are the possible complications of the operation?
We do not expect to encounter any complications. Spinal surgery is, howev-
er, not risk free and you have to be sure that you understand the more well-
known complications. It is important to realise that it is impossible to fully
describe all possible complications of surgery. The following are the most
well-recognised complications.
Risk: There is a risk that the pain, pins and needles or weakness that you cur-
rently experience, might not improve immediately following surgery, or in
rare cases, never.
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