waking up with intubation apparatus still in throat

RAS_STI · May 1, 2008

getting ready for my procedure on Monday. happy to say the least.

but among the mountain of paperwork i signed today - one piece spoke about "possibly" waking up with the intubation apparatus still in my throat and to "remain calm".

ok. sure. remain calm. got it.

my question is - did anyone on this board, who had the lap band, wake up with this tool still in place?

thanks.

Hastings · May 1, 2008

I was intubated, but it had been removed when I awoke. I think that is a precautionary statement.

MrsFlipFlops · May 1, 2008

Well, not for my lapband- but when I had kidney stone surgery I woke up and they were just beginning to take it out. I was too drowsy to really understand what was going on, but it did freak me out a little bit because no one told me I was going to get a tube to begin with!!

Shadow08 · May 1, 2008

An ET is standard proceudre for any surgery that is rather intensive. It is YOUR life support while under anesthesia as that is the only way you are breathing and guarenteed not to inhale any vomit that you may produce. I have put these in in the field (I am an EMT) and if the patient starts to wake up, it is a simple gag reflex. You need to remain calm so that it can be safely removed although you are generally "just about awake" when it is taken out in surgery. I would be more scared if I was told they were NOT going to use an ET!!!

StaceyM · May 1, 2008

Mine was in when I woke up.

I was still pretty out of it so all I remember is the CRNA saying "Stacey it went great, cough so we can remove your breathing tube". I coughed and the next thing I remember I was waking up again in the recovery room. I didn't feel a thing and I promise, you are pumped so full of stuff it won't matter.

tarrn13 · May 1, 2008

it's called an ET tube (endotracheal tube) and even if you start to wake up before they have extubated you, you'll be so out of it that it will all be pretty hazy and you won't really be aware of what's happening.

dicev · May 1, 2008

Oh Lord,

I just read your post. Waking up with that tube in your throat, are they kidding??? Who is going to remain calm??? On the other hand, I'm glad they let you know it's a possibility--I would just know, I had died and gone to hell. I'm so glad you wrote about this. I have my surgery on Tues May 6th. This will give me time to process and adjust to utter disbelief!! What if you wake up before they are through operating? I'm sitting here laughing. Too much!!

It goes to show just how badly we want and need this surgery doesn't it? Thanks

Long2BFree · May 1, 2008

Oh Lord,
I just read your post. Waking up with that tube in your throat, are they kidding??? Who is going to remain calm??? On the other hand, I'm glad they let you know it's a possibility--I would just know, I had died and gone to hell. I'm so glad you wrote about this. I have my surgery on Tues May 6th. This will give me time to process and adjust to utter disbelief!! What if you wake up before they are through operating? I'm sitting here laughing. Too much!!

It goes to show just how badly we want and need this surgery doesn't it? Thanks

The chance of you waking up during surgery is very slim. You are given meds to help you wake up so I could see why some might just be getting the tube removed at this point and be aware of it.

plain · May 1, 2008

Well....to totally be a wet blanket / downer kind of guy...the last statistics I read was that there are about 33,000 cases per year of being "awake" during anesthesia (hospitals are slowly adding precautions such as EEG monitoring during surgery to prevent this). However, 33,000 cases divided by umpteen gazillion surgeries done means your chances of waking up during surgery is pretty slim.

Remember, there is also a chance (however slim) that an airplane will fall out of the sky and strike your car as you drive. :smile:

soriminah · May 3, 2008

They do warn you there is a possibilty. Mine was gone when I woke up. I was in hospital for another procedure a couple of weeks ago and in recovery the man across from me had his taken out while he was waking up. I was glad it wasn't me but he was so out of it he probably didn't feel a thing.

juliegeraci · May 3, 2008

Both during my lapband surgery and my plastic surgery the tube was removed when I was under. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Good luck with your surgery. How exciting.