Preoperative
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
Surgery requires great vigilance. Monitoring or
pre-operative care are conducted before surgery and in all aspects of
caring for a patient from the moment he/she agrees to surgery and
until his/her arrival in the operating theatre. Most of the time
pre-operative care will begin the eve of the day scheduled for the
surgery.
We can define two-point aim for preoperative monitoring:
- Prepare the patient physically and psychically for surgery
- Collecting as much physical and biological data as possible so as to allow the surgeon to perform the procedure in conditions of maximum efficiency and safety.
Before admission, the surgeon will see the patient,
repeatedly if necessary. This is the informed consent stage. Informed
consent allows the patient, after receiving information from his doctor
that is clear, understandable and appropriate to his abilities, to
understand the nature of the actions and prescriptions proposed, why
these are in the interests of health and the adverse consequences of
refusal. The doctor helps him to reflect, gives him the explanations he
seeks, can correct misunderstandings and remind of things that he has
forgotten. . Informed consent is not an end in itself but the mark of a
good relationship with the patient. The surgeon, through consultation
and informed consent, will guide the patient in his/her willingness to
go ahead with surgery or not.
The day before surgery, the patient will be welcomed and supported by
medical personnel. . Preoperative monitoring begins with the checking
of medical records. The purpose of pre-operative examinations is to
assess the various patient functions on which the anaesthesia may
have an impact: pulmonary X-ray and cardiac examinations and biological
and nutritional assessments, etc are carried out.
Preoperative preparation of the patient starts the evening before with
a light meal, to be followed by fasting from midnight. This is the
physical preparation. There is also a psychological preparation aimed
at informing and relaxing the patient as much as possible before the
procedure, and the preparation of the localized area where the
procedure will be carried out (the operative field).
The day of the surgery, there is pre-operative preparation of the room
for the return of the patient. Only anaesthesia will determine the
patient's return to his/her room, according to the level of recovery of
reflexes, consciousness and the stability of vital signs.
Do not forget that plastic, aesthetic or reconstructive surgery
involves uncommon, difficult procedures, requiring a lot of rigour,
carrying all the risks associated with any medical procedure
(anaesthesia and surgery) even when carried out under the most
favourable conditions, it to say by a competent plastic surgeon.
Without overstating the risk, a proportion of risks exist. Turning to a
qualified plastic surgeon can prevent complications or help to treat
them effectively.