I was attending the Podiatry Department of our local Hospital.
In growing toenails on my big toes, that were now growing into my toes instead of up and out where they could be trimmed.
Today was my initial appointment where I had been assesed and now would be seen by a Doctor on my next visit.
The Nurse sprayed my toes with Freezing Spray to numb them and carefully trimmed the parts of the nail that were downturned and digging in hard.
The Hospital was all new, well this part was, so I had to read the overhead signs to find where I was going, also to try and locate the exit to get out.
Coming along a long corridor I read the sign and it said Endoscopy and Dental Waiting area.
I never realised there was a Dental area in the Hospital.
I detoured towards where the sign pointed, at the end of that short corridor was two yellow doors with Endoscopy above them.
Looking left there were six seats in two rows of three, on the wall was Tooth care posters and another sign that read, Dental Patients with appointments Please take a seat and somone will attend you shortly.
Looking past the corner with the seats revealed another set of double yellow doors.
Dental Surgical Suite the sign above read.
Mounted on the wall was three boxes with shut off valves.
Dental Suite shut off point.
The taps were labelled on the boxes.
I wondered if there was General Anaesthetic machines inside.
I had always had a very keen interest in Anaesthesia ever since I first had Anaesthetic Gas at the Dentist, and a few times since.
I had also been put to sleep twice in Hospital with the black rubber anaesthetic mask.
I approached the yellow doors hoping to see through the glass windows to inside.
The glass was mirrored, obviously to stop people looking inside.
I was about to turn and go back to the long corridor and the way out when the yellow door opened and a young lady stood looking at me.
Can I help you? She asked.
Looking at the woman I realised she was Hospital Staff and on her white shirt was a badge the said, Ellen Short, then Anaesthestist underneath.
I was embarrassed and tried to think of an excuse for being where I was.
I am. I mean was waiting...... er... for someone. I stumbled.
Where? In here? the lady asked.
I just nodded, I could feel my face beginning to redden.
They can't be in here, all today's patients have been and gone. She said.
Really? Can't you read? She asked.
Yes, I had an appointment with Podiatry and was trying to find my way out, I said.
I am not sure I believe you, I saw you trying to look through the door. She said.
Ok, I admit it I was looking. I replied.
What were you looking for? Drugs, something to steal, she asked.
No, nothing like that, honest. I said.
I was looking to see if there was any anaesthetic machines in the room. I almost mumbled out.
I liked having Anasthetic Gas at the Dentist and Hospital when I was younger, I replied.
I see, how long ago was this? She asked.
Years ago when I had just started secondary school was the last time. I said.
Hmmm, things have changed a lot since then, we only use General Anaesthesia when we really have to, not for anything more than a quick look, like they did in the 1970's and early 1980's she said.
We don't even use the same anaesthetics these days, we use far safer stuff and only in proper hospital settings with better equipment and patient monitoring.
What was it you used to have at the Dentist's? I bet it was Nitrous Oxide and Halothane you had.
It was and I really liked having it. I admitted.
You actually liked having anaesthesia? She asked.
Yes, I loved the whole experiance. Seeing the gas machine behind ths chair. Being restrained by the leather belt and heavy rubber apron. Then the black rubber mask would appear and the gas would start all nice and sweet but get all strong and heavy as it put me under. I explained.
That is very unusual, most patients only accept the Anaesthesia because its a necessary part of getting better. She said.
No, your wrong, many people like being anaesthetised, it becomes a kink. I argued
I know getting put under is easy with new drugs and Technics but I don't like not being in control of what is happening to me. She replied.
That's partly what excites me, giving the Anaesthestist control, the power to put you to sleep and keep you there for as long as they chose, trusting that they will keep you safe to wake up again. I explained.
So, what do you want? She asked bluntly.
I would like to relive my early age experiances of being put to sleep with anaesthetic gas through a mask. I said .
I can't do that, I would get in so much trouble to allow such a thing to happen, if anyone found out I would probably be struck off and never be allowed to practice again. She explained.
I know, I don't think I shall ever relive those experiances. I said.
What is your name? She asked.
David, I'm not even sure we should be having this conversation, someone could make a whole lot of trouble out of this. She said.
Suddenly we heard footsteps coming along the corridor towards us.
Quick, in here, she said opening the yellow door.
When inside we were in a hallway, so looking through the window would be no advantage anyway.
We stood behind the doors and watched as three people came into the waiting room and sat down on the seats
A man, a woman and a young child.
They must have an appointment with Endoscopy as I don't have any more appointments today. She said. This room had a pecular smell, appart from the usual Hospital smell there was a funny chemical taint to the air.
Can I have a look around? I asked.
Your not even supposed to be in here, this is a Surgical Area. She replied.
Why did you drag me in then? I asked.
I could have left the area and you could have come back here. I replied.
I panicked I suppose. She replied.
After a few moments she said, I shall give you a tour of the area.
The hall we were were in lead onto another short corridor that had several other yellow doors along its length.
All the side doors were single wide doors but the ones at the bottom end were double.
The first door was titled Suite 1.
The door was slightly open but it was pushed further open and we went in.
In the centre of the room was a large blue electric powered dental chair.
This was surrounded by dental equipment.
Behind the chair was a rack of monitoring equipment and almost unnoticeable was the anaesthetic machine.
Free standing on castors it had three pipes connected to fittings mounted in the ceiling.
Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen and Scavanging.
There was nothing connected to the machine it was bare, not breathing circuit or rebreathing bag.
Is that it? I asked sounding disappointed.
What do you mean, that is all I need to put a patient under and monitor them, I can perform assisted breathing and resuscitation with what you see. She replied.
On the front of the anaesthetic machine was two flow meters marked in litres per minute and another box with yellow writing that stated Sevoflurane only.
This had a graduated dial that ranged from zero up to eight percent.
I could remember a similar thing but with red printing on the Dentist's machine. This was the Anaesthetic that made you unconscious. I had never had this stuff though.
David, when did you last eat? The Anaesthetist asked.
I had my breakfast at around 8am.
What did you have? She asked.
Toast with spreading cheese and a mug of tea. I replied.
Nothing since? She asked.
Why are you asking that? I questioned.
How would you like a trip under with some modern anaesthetic? She asked.
You mean you would do that for me? I asked.
Yes, I would but it has to be a secret between the two of us, yes? She said.
Have you been to the bathroom recently? She asked.
That might be a good idea, I don't want you wetting yourself in the chair. She said.
Does that actually happen? I asked.
Of course it does, when you are anaesthetised everything relaxes and if you have urine in your bladder it can just leak. She said.
In there straight ahead, toilet, please use it. She said.
I followed her pointed finger and found the small room just big enough for a toilet and a small basin. I struggled to begin peeing but after a few moments trying to start it just began flowing.
I was not sure I was actually empty but no more was coming out right now.
When I returned Ellen Short looked straight at me and said, Take your jacket off, loosen your top at the neck and have a seat on this chair
As I took my jacket off she adjusted the seat back up and the foot support down and the whole seat upwards in hight.
Right David, I need to set the machine up for you, so you can sit there and watch, Ok?
My name is Ellen, Ellen Short, you can call me Ellen. She said smiling at me.
Ellen took a bunch of keys from her pocket and walked over to a metal wall mounted box and used a key to unlock the box and came back with a carboard box.
After removing a brown bottle from the box the top was removed and a fill adapter screwed onto the bottle top. This was used to fill the shiny silver anaesthetic vaporizer till the liquid inside the sightglass was back up to the full line.
How long will that last? I asked.
That depends on how much I use it, inductions use quite a lot of anaesthetic but maintainance a lot less, once you are nicely under, a half to one percent will keep you deep enough and I could probably keep you asleep till tomorrow dinner time quite easily on what's in there now. Ellen said.
The original top was returned to the bottle, then the bottle back in the box, then the box returned to the cupboard and the door locked.
After going to another room Ellen returned with a large polythene bag with green printing, Intersurgical it read.
Pulling the bag top open Ellen pulled a long white translucent corrugated hose from the bag the placed it on the gas machine and connected a big hose to the valve outlet.
From the same bag a green rubber two litre re-breathing bag was pulled and placed on a spigot close to the gas outlet but on the white corrigated tube.
This is a standard three meter long bain breathing circuit with a two litre bag. Ellen said.
The green line inside carries the fresh gas to the mask and the expired gas travels on the outside back to the APL valve then when exhausted into the scavenger so I don't have to breathe the anaesthetic gas.
We need a mask to fit you now Ellen said returning to the other room. After a few moments choosing brought another polythene bag.
This bag contained a plastic mask that was clear and had a thick sqishy seal. This was fitted to the breathing circuit.
Have you got vest on under that top? Ellen asked.
I need to get you wired up to the monitoring equipment, also check your heart and lungs with my stethoscope, so you really need to take it off. Ellen said.
Ok, I replied, taking my top off revealing my t-shirt.
You'll be fine it warm in here, Ellen said as she pulled out the harness of wires for the monitoring equipment.
I got sticky pads placed on my chest and a little clamp thing that glowed red light attached to a finger on my right hand.
What does thst do? I asked.
It measures the Oxygen level in your blood, Ellen replied.
Picking up her stethoscope and placing the ends in her ears she began listening to my chest and my heart.
Deep breath in and hold, fine, breathe out again, Ok normal breathing.
Right we need to check your blood pressure now.
The black rubber cuff was affixed round my arm and the cuff inflated till it was very tight. Slowly the pressure was released while Ellen watched the reading.
That's a bit high, are you excited? Ellen asked.
Have you any allergies? Ellen asked.
You said you had General Anaesthesia at the Dentist's and in Hospital, any problems?
Good, Now do you want to try breathing a little anaesthetic first or would you prefer to be put completely under? Ellen asked.
I would like to be put completely under please, I replied.
I've had gas a few times and going under is usually easy and exciting, waking up is the worst part. I said.
Well anaesthetics are powerful drugs, most of them have unpleasant after effects, but Sevoflurane is a quick acting anaesthetic that has a pleasant smell, far nicer than smelly old Halothane. Ellen said.
I liked the old stuff, it has a nice smell and some really weird effects as you go under. I said.
Ohh, I know, I have had Halothane a few times and have experienced how it gets all heavy and smelly as you buzz and trip your way to unconscious. But I would never describe it as pleasant.
When Isoflurane was popular as the main anaesthetic, they would induce anaesthesia with Propafol injected before starting the gas.
They would still use Halothane and Nitrous Oxide to put children under as it was reasonably quick and kids were usually stunned enough to complete the induction, but there would be tears, crying and breath holding as they went under, panicking and holding their breath meant they would take big gasps of gas, causing causing more distress as the buzzing started in their head. Ellen said.
I didn't mind the buzzing, somtimes I would feel all frizzy as the gas pushed me close to going under. I said.
Do you know I don't think I could lay my hands on a bottle of Halothane, Five years ago a lot of Anaesthestists preferred it for children's inductions, but I haven't seen any for a long time.
Do you think I will like this new stuff? I asked .
I think you will find it pleasant to breathe and very quick in action. Ellen said.
You will recover far quicker with Sevoflurane too. Ellen said.
If you are ready I shall tilt you back towards me and lift your legs up till they are flat.
I nodded, I was getting very excited now and heart rate monitor was sounding out faster and faster.
Try and relax for me, I shall start with just Oxygen, I'll let you get used to breathing from the mask, then I shall add 50% Nitrous Oxide for a few breaths then the real anaesthetic, it has a nice pleasant smell, so you will have no trouble taking a few long deep breaths for me. Ellen said.
My heart beat was still racing. I could feel it thumping in my chest .
Ellen opened the Oxygen up to eight litres on the scale and picked up the clear plastic mask.
Right, head right back against the chair, let me bring the mask to you.
I was shown the mask with the hose stretched out in front of me.
As it came closer to my face I could hear it gently blowing, even closer now I could feel the gas blowing on my face.
Just Oxygen David, just try and relax and take nice easy breaths for me.
The mask was now touching my face, the squishy cuff gradually sealing me in, I could only breathe from the machine noe.
There was a quick hissing noise.
It's Ok, I just added some more Oxygen to blow the bag up for you to breathe. Ellen said.
I took my first breath from the mask, if I squinted my eyes I could see the hole in the mask that the gas came in and out from.
The mask had a smell like a plastic bag, it was not strong or unpleasant though.
Easy to breathe? Ellen asked.
I tried to nod but Ellen held my head steady with the mask. Just keep still, you can speak, I will still hear you, Ellen said.
My heart was still beating hard and fast and my breathing was nervous and a bit ragged.
Ohh David, you will go under very quickly indeed if you don't calm down a bit.
Lets see if you can concentrate on the green bag, I want you to try and make it inflate and deflate nice and smoothly.
No ragged movements, nice steady long deep breaths, come on, lets count you breaths together. Ellen said.
Watching the green bag fill I tried to empty it slowly and smoothly.
One, Ellen said. Count the breaths with me David
After watching the bag fill again, I took another long slow breath, Two. I said.
That's much better, keep going. Ellen said.
By the time we got to five breaths I was still waiting for the Nitrous Oxide to start making me feel dizzy.
I shall add a little more Nitrous Oxide and you tell me when you notice a change, Ellen said.
Ok, I replied in a voice a lot deeper than normal.
This should have been a hint that I had been breathing Nitrous Oxide for a few breaths already.
My next breath gave me a sweet taste right at the back of my throat, there it was, that's anaesthesia starting properly, I thought.
Sweet. I said in a deep voice.
Yes, nice though? Ellen asked.
I nearly laughed as my head felt a little dizzy and that numb feeling had began in my fingers and toes.
I had counted seven breaths now and was surprised how long this was taking, I was usually buzzing strongly fighting to keep my eyes open after six breaths.
On the next breath a new smell came, it was like....... What does that smell like......... Hmmmm, marker pens? Yeah, that was it, like marker pens but not as sharp, a pleasant sweetness.
I took another long deep breath and that nice sweet smell felt like it was washing over me.
My eyesight was begining to get dark on the edges.
Your doing really well David, said Ellen's voice, cutting through the fog in my head, but it had the echo effect.
Before I had time to react or say anything her voice said, Nice long deep breaths now David, That's it, good boy, take another nice big breath of the nice gas for me.
I complied and suddenly My head and body began buzzing hard. I could no longer fight to keep my eyes open, it was just too difficult.
Another breath and I slipped into the nice warm feeling that anaesthetic sleep gives.
My chest felt warm and tingly, deeper and deeper I slipped till I knew nothing and felt nothing.
What felt like seconds later the blackness began to turn grey and gradually White till a voice said, Can you open your eyes for me David.
I really didn't want to open my eyes, I wanted more of that sweet smell to send me back into anaesthetized sleep.
I tried to slip back into the darkness but the anaesthetic effect was slipping away fast.
David, Open your eyes for me, it's all done now.
I forced my eyes open to find the clear mask still on my face, but it was no longer anaesthetic I was breathing but horrid weak smelling Oxygen.
After a few breaths Ellen asked how was that?
Great, but far too short, I replied.
You were under for fifteen minutes, Ellen said.
It felt like only seconds, I grumbled
It was great but the induction was so quick. I said.
That was at least twice as long as normal when I use Sevofluraine. Ellen said.
After breathing Oxygen for a few minutes my head had cleared enough to hold a conversation.
Well, what do you think? Ellen asked.
Nice, very smooth, but lacks the feelings and excitement of Halothane. I said.
Most people would prefer the Sevoflurane as they described the smell pleasant and the induction quick and very smooth. Ellen said.
Well yes, but a bit too easy I said.
Ok, before we get you ready to leave do you want to try the same again, but at normal speed? Ellen asked.
Yes, I'd love to have that again. I said.
Er, yes, ready, I replied
Just breathe easily and normally, Ellen said.
Suddenly the smell of the anaesthetic flooded the mask, it was far stronger than the last time but still pleasant and nice to breathe.
Big breaths, quick quick, Ellen said as she squeezed the green bag with her hand.
The heavy buzzing began again and I flew upwards this time, higher and higher I flew but getting deeper and deeper into anaesthetic sleep.
Wheee! Went my head as it gave up even trying to remain aware.
The black again turned grey and grey to white, followed by Ellen's voice asking me to open my eyes again
The pleasant sweet smell was gone again, I really wanted more of that.
I wanted to go under it's potent wonderful spell, into that warm blackness again.
How was that? Ellen asked.
That stuff is amazing, it does not smell strong enough to be an anaesthetic but it is and a nice one too.
But you still would rather have Halothane, wouldn't you? Ellen asked.
Right Halothane in this country has gone as an anaesthetic used on humans, some vets might be still using it, but it's dangerous to adults, they stopped using it when they discovered it can and did cause Halothane Hepatitis , that caused kidney and liver failure in adults, it didn't seem to have the same effect on children, so they continued to use it for inductions with children.
Many children like you grew to like having Halothane Anaesthesia, many claiming they liked the smell and effects it caused during induction.
I always found it smelly and rather frightening when I had it, but had some really wierd and wonderful dreams and hallucinations under Halothane.
Many more children wet themselves under Halothane Anaesthesia, some even soiled themselves probably in fear of the wild dreams. Ellen explained.
Many of the older Anaesthetists didn't have the patience to add the Halothane slowly and gently to a heavily Nitrous Oxide sedated patient to slip them gently and smoothly into anaesthesia.
So many patients hated the smell and effects of Halothane.
The main problem was it's not very friendly to your body and nowhere near as safe as modern anaesthetics.
Far far better than ether anaesthesia that ruled before halothane but modern anaethetics as simply better and safer. Ellen explained.
Ellen removed the clear plastic mask from my face and I had the feeling that ordinary room air was very bland, it didn't have that plastic smell or the chance of anaesthetic being added to it.
Has your head cleared now? Ellen asked.
Yes, I feel quite normal now. I replied.
Good, I wouldn't want you staggering around the hospital looking apparently drunk. Ellen said. Have you ever sniffed anything in your quest for the anaesthesia effect? Ellen asked.
No, never, what sort of things? I questioned.
We shall not put stupid ideas into your head, some people, sniff various chemicals for the high it gives them, it's very dangerous.
If you are going unconscious or even semi- unconscious you need someone to watch over you, just incase you vomit or stop breathing, even falling over while under the influence, your normal reactions and defence are seriously diminished. Ellen said.
I've never tried anything like that, a friend and I nearly passed out in his shed while trying to get his motorbike to run.
Ahh, Carbon Monoxide, its leathal, it sneaks up on you till you fall over pass out and then die. Ellen said.
When we were training in Collage we used to do things in groups of up to ten, we would sometimes have to volunteer to be the patient and be anaesthetised while the other pupils watched, it was always quite embarrassing being the patient as sometimes you would say or do something funny or just plain silly while anaesthetised.
I wet myself while under in front of my group and got teased for ages about needing to wear a nappy for anaesthetic inductions.
Thankfully,I was not the only one this happend too. Ellen said.
We got put in a small room to watch short films and fill in a test paper.
What we didn't know was they were gradually introducing anaesthetic gas into the room, the only thing I noticed was every one was yawning and the room felt rather stuffy.
Once you are so far anaesthetised you don't smell the anaesthetic or are you aware that you are slowly succumbing to it.
We were woken up by two tutors and told this perfectly demonstrated how easy it was to fall under anaesthestic gases effects without knowing it was even there. The importance of checking anaesthetic machines carefully for leaks before use and using scavenging where available.
Another danger demonstated to us was breathing exhaled gas from patients in Dental settings and anywhere else you might use open exhaust breathing circuits.
I got a good telling off from my tutor anaesthetist for getting too close and sniffing the sweet anaesthetic as it came out the expiritory valve, the give away was swaying around with glassy looking eyes with a silly grin on your face.
I must have been a couple of breaths away from falling over. Ellen said.
So you do think anaesthetic is pleasant. I said.
Well yes, it can be, but its also morish, you get a whiff of it and think, ohh that's nice, then you start to feel happy, a bit more you feel excited, perhaps a little dizzy or giddy.
Then you want more, more giddy, how much nicer does this get, you know you are being anaesthetised, all the feelings are there but it dies not stop you wanting more anaesthetic, Ellen said.
It's definitely not good to be half way under while trying to observe and care for your patient. Ellen said.
Do you Doctors ever use Anaesthesia for your own pleasure? I asked.
If I said never I would be telling lies, I would never let anyone except a fully trained Anaesthestist with lots of practice put me under, but it does happen occasionally. Ellen said.
We often have meetings of Anaesthetists where new drugs or equipment is discussed between the very people who will use the stuff.
Often we try this same stuff on patients who need treatment anyway, it usually has been lab tested and varified well before we get our hands on it. Ellen said.
There was a lot of intrest in Sevoflurane when they decided it was to be used more often in preferance to Isoflurane and many of the Anaesthestists wanted to to try it for themselves, just so they knew what it was like from a Patient's perspective. Ellen said.
I can remember years ago at the Dentist's the Anaesthestist turned on the gases and then added some Halothane, he then put the mask close to his face and sniffed at the emerging gas as if it was some kind of test. I said.
I've seen that done in films too, Ellen said. What is the point, the machine and vaporizer are both calibrated, what is says on the scales is what it should be outting out. Ellen said.
They shouldn't do it, they are there to put their Patient quickly and safely in an Anaesthetised state and ensure that Patients safety, not to play around.
Every Anaestheist has open access to the equipment and drugs used and plenty of time to try them, usually with another Anaesthestist present to make sure it's done safely, Surely far better than risking dying needlessly from an anaesthetic accident. Ellen said.
I could strap that mask on my face, dial up an induction strength anaesthetic mixture and be unconscious in under a minute.
I can't stop the gas while unconscious, so in about five or six minutes I would stop breathing from an anaesthetic overdose and die quickly and painlessly while deeply unconscious. Ellen said.
What a total waste of human life, we became Doctors to help the sick carry on living. Ellen said.
Worse than that imagine being found just in time to be saved but you now have serious life changing brain damage, needing constant care from others, perhaps totally incontinant with feeding problems. Not much of an existance, is it? Ellen said.
I shook my head agreeing with her.
You need to leave shortly as I need to go, but before you go we can finish the rest of your tour. Ellen said.
The room next door is the same general set up as this one but is set up for younger children with bright colours and cartoon characters everywhere, even the ceiling hopefully as a distraction during anaesthetic induction.
We have pretty coloured masks that the kids choose, the can decorate them with stickers too.
Most of the equipment is hidden from the induction area, so when the time comesall they see is their own mask that they are encoraged to sniff the sweet breeze from, or help me blow up the green balloon.
Some kids just breathe the gas and got to sleep, others are so worried by all the strange people and unknown surroundings that the last straw is some stranger trying to stick a hissing mask on their face. Some sleepy syrup soon calms them and gas blown at their face soon slips them under quickly and quietly. Ellen said.
I once got put under like that, a young guy got me in the chair and secure, then said he was going to let me sniff the gas from the hose.
I asked why not just use the mask as usual, he said this was just a little diffrent.
When the gas started it was very weak and I was convinced it was not strong enough to actually put me to sleep. Eventually that light feeling head and giddyness meant that something was happening.
I didn't notice but he had cupped his hand over my nose and face just like a mask. Right David deep breaths for me, the Halothane was quite strong but two breaths later I slipped under.
Somewhere in the proceedings the hand changed to a black rubber mask, but I can't tell you when that happened I said.
I bet you enjoyed that induction. Ellen said.
It was different enough to distract me and I was convinced the gas was not strong enough to put me under. I said.
That is something most Anaesthestists will agree on, one they have you breathing gas, the only way you are going is to sleep. Even if you find the smell or effects objectionable, we try and never stop the induction.
It takes less than a minute from mask on till you slip under, if you are stuggling you are breathing harder, even if you are crying or screaming you are breathing gas and will soon go quiet, as confusion or loss of conscious takes over
I'd prefer it to be a far nicer experiance but sometimes it just does not go that way. Ellen explained.
I was ushered along the hallway to another set of double yellow doors. OR 1 It said above the doors.
Normally no Patient sees this room, only a short stop here to get put to sleep with the induction set here.
Ellen pointed at another very small compact Anaesthetic Machine with another Sevoflurane Vapourizer on it, but strangely this had a rubber breathing circuit fitted. Two litre rubber bag and a black rubber face mask.
Why........? I began. I knew you were going to ask that, normally it has a disposable plastic circuit and mask fitted, but that set up was a special request from someone older that has had many operations performed on him recently and always complained that anaethesia was better when he was younger
The rubber set up made him go under smiling. Ellen said.
Yes, Nitrous Oxide and rubber is a great smell, I said
I would have to agree with you there, Ellen said. As she almost pushed me into the nain part of the large room.
The main attraction was a big Hospital Anaesthetic Machine with several diffent vaporizers fitted, Isolfluraine, Sevofluraine and Desfluraine.
What is Desfluraine?I asked.
An Anaesthetic of course, you will never get to try it because like Isofluraine it is pungent and unpleasant to breathe, but is a really good potent anaesthetic with really good recovery characteristics. Ellen said.
You come in here already anaesthetised probably with a breathing tube up your nose, down your throat into your chest so it keeps your mouth clear for the Surgeon to work on your teeth, gums and throat.
You will be paralysed by drugs and the anaesthetic machine will breathe for you. I will be monitoring you carefully throughout the procedure and right up till I discharge you to the post op team. Ellen said.
There is no operating table in here, I said. You get wheeled in on your bed, put under, operated on then wheeled out in the same bed. Ellen said
The big anaesthetic machine had gas cylinders mounted on the back as emergency back up. Ellen said. Ellen also uncovered another anaesthetic machine with cylinders and two vaporizers fitted that was for emergency use too.
It looked old but looked as if it would be very efficient at it's job.
That's about it David, the rest is storage for supplies, breathing circuits and masks.
There is also an area for prepared sterile instuments too. Ellen said pointing.
David, I'm pleading with you, please do not tell anyone what happened in here today. Ellen said.
I won't, thank you for doing that, it's been such a long time since I was out to sleep. I said.
Mist people would think that a good thing. Ellen said .
I dont want you hanging around in the waiting area either because all Hospital Staff are regularly reminded to look out for people apparently wandering around or in certain areas without an apparent reason. Ellen said.
Ellen said her goodbye and me to her and I got sent on my way.
It sure had been an unexpected exciting afternoon.
When they decided that my big toenails would have to be removed and my toe tops cut and reshaped under General Anaesthesia, Ellen was the Anaesthestist and gave me great treatment.
Ellen was also present when I got a broken arm reset while anaesthetised.
A nice younger girl done the anaesthetic and gave me the feeling she would put me under with Propafol, but Ellen insisted she wanted to see her perform a mask induction with Nitrous Oxide and Sevoflurane.
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