|
Initially you
will be referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, who will assess
you and discuss whether surgery is appropriate for you, and
if so, which type of implant to use. Once your operation is
scheduled, you will probably be asked to attend the hospital
for pre-operative assessment some weeks before the date of
your operation. Following your operation, you will attend an
outpatient review clinic to monitor your progress.
Prior to your operation, your surgeon will most likely
invite you to attend a pre-assessment clinic. At this time,
a detailed medical assessment will be carried out and a full
medical history taken. Various physical examinations will be
undertaken, such as heart monitoring, X-rays, blood and
urine samples. This session allows the professionals to
determine your suitability for surgery and gives you another
opportunity to discuss the procedure and ask any questions
you may subsequently have thought of.
Below is a rough check list of items to take with you to
hospital:
- Personal belongings, including: toothpaste,
toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, two face cloths, towels, deodorant, soap,
shampoo, shaving equipment, underwear, robe.
- Slippers or flat, rubber-soled shoes for walking.
- A track-suit or other suitably loose-fitting,
comfortable garment for day wear in the hospital and for wearing home.
- Any medication you are currently taking, together
with a list to give to nursing staff detailing your medication, including
strength, dosage and timings. Remember your nebuliser, if you suffer with
asthma.
- Leave all valuables, such as jewellery, credit cards,
cheque books and any other items of personal value, at home. Wedding rings
may be left on as these will be taped up prior to going to theatre. Take a
small amount of money for newspapers, magazines, sweets, telephone calls -
remember, use of mobile 'phones in hospitals may not be permitted.
You will normally be admitted to hospital the day prior to
surgery. This gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with your
surroundings and allows the professional team to settle you in. At this time,
you may expect the following to happen:
- A member of the nursing staff will show you around
the ward.
- You will be given an ID bracelet and, at the same
time, should be asked if you have any known allergies. If this is the case,
you will be given an additional red bracelet, which alerts the rest of the
team to this fact.
- Blood will be taken to confirm your blood type, for
cross-match purposes if necessary, and to ensure your haemoglobin levels are
satisfactory.
- You may be measured for a pair of surgical stockings
to wear after the operation (these will be put on by the nursing staff) to
help reduce the risk of blood clots.
- The Physiotherapist may visit and discuss a
post-operative exercise programme to mobilise you as soon as possible after
surgery.
- The Anaesthetist will visit you to discuss the
anaesthetic. He/she will enquire about your general health, whether or not
you are a smoker, whether you currently have any prostheses, wear contact
lenses or have any crowns.
- A member of the nursing staff will run through the
operation and what to expect before and after. He/she will advise you not to
eat anything for six hours prior to surgery; however, you will be permitted
water and certain clear fluids.
- You will be given a consent form to sign. This shows
you understand the procedure and are in full agreement for the Consultant to
proceed.
- A member of the operating team may visit to mark up
the leg which is to be operated on.
- All of the above is routine practice and to be
expected.
Your Anaesthetist will have already been to see you to go
through the process, probably the day before. You will be taken from the ward to
the operating theatre and, before going into theatre, you will be taken into the
anaesthesia room, accompanied by a theatre Nurse. You will be asked a number of
questions from a check-list, which you will have already answered; this is
purely a double-check. All of the drugs required to administer sedation are in
this room.
To start with, three sticky patches are applied to the chest area. These patches
allow the heart to be monitored during surgery. A small plastic tube is inserted
into a vein, usually at the back of the hand. This is then taped into place and
it is through this one point that all the drugs will be injected.
Once the sedation is injected, which normally feels slightly cold, you will
begin to feel drowsy. You may be asked to count backwards from ten; invariably
you will be asleep well before you reach one. Once asleep, the anaesthetic team
begin their work. You will be intubated - this means a tube is passed down your
throat, thus allowing oxygen and other gases to be pumped into the lungs.
You may also be catheterised. This allows kidney function
to be monitored during surgery. The catheter may be left in place for
approximately 24 hours after surgery and this removes the need to get up and
empty the bladder.
Once these processes have been completed satisfactorily, you are ready for
surgery.
By the time you are wheeled into the operating theatre from
the anaesthetics room you will have been asleep for about 20 minutes already.
The hip replacement procedure will typically take between one and two hours. It is purely
Surgeon preference regarding the surgical approach used, but you will be placed
on your side or on your back for this procedure. The leg being operated on will
be scrubbed with an antiseptic solution and your whole body covered in sterile
drapes. Once ready to start, the Surgeon will make an initial cut, up to 15cm
long, along the hip and upper thigh. This incision is gradually deepened to cut
through fat, muscle and tissue until the bones of the hip are fully exposed.
Once the Surgeon has full sight of the hip joint, the leg is rotated until the
femoral head is dislocated from the socket of the pelvis. |
