I am coming for an operation

Before your operation, you will first have a discussion with the doctor. The doctor will describe the operation procedure to be used. Afterwards, you will have a discussion with the pharmacy technician and the anesthesiologist. The pharmacy technician will go through the medications with you. The anesthesiologist will speak with you about the best sort of anesthetic for you to take. For example a lumbar puncture, local anesthesia for one arm or leg or general anaesthesia.

On the day of your operation, you will first be prepared in the department. When you proceed to the operations center, you will be received by our employees at the so-called holding facility. Here, you will undergo additional preparation for your operation. After this, a nurse anesthetist will bring you to the operating room.

In the operating room, you will be provided with an intravenous drip, if you require one. You will also be connected to the monitoring equipment. We measure your blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in your blood and keep an eye on your heart rate. Before you are administered anesthetic or narcosis, the operating team will go over a number of questions with you.

You will be well-cared for after your operation. Usually, you will be taken to the post-anesthesia care unit (also known as ‘post-op’). You will remain here until you have completely awakened. Are you undergoing a major operation or do you have heart or lung disease? If so, then following your operation, you will receive accommodations in Intensive Care (IC) or in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Sometimes, you will be able to return home quickly and sometimes you will remain in the LUMC for several nights. 

For questions, please contact the Anaesthesiology Department:

• Telephone: +31 (0)71 526 45 83
  Available: Monday to Friday from 10.00 - 12.00 and 15.00 - 16.30, Friday until 16.00.
• Via email: anst-posmedewerkers@lumc.nl