Surgery while awake: patient's ordeal (Poesque nightmare)

AAP ^ | 5/9/03 | Judy Skatssoon

[TXnMA]

When I had cardiac catherization to put in two stents following two heart attacks, the anesthesiologist introduced herself by saying, "I'll be your bartender this afternoon -- and I'm going to make sure you feel reallly good...". Then she pumped something into my IV.

I could still hear conversation and see folks moving around where they were inserting the catherer into my femoral artery.

At one point, I felt the same angina I'd felt during the heart attacks -- and said so aloud. The cardiologist responded with "That's to be expected -- right now, my catheter is blocking the artery that caused the atack. I'll be done in a minute or so."

I recall saying, "OK..." Then the anaesthesiologist did something, and I lost consciousness.

When we got back to my room, the PA (Physician Assistant) who had been attending the procedure laughingly told me that I had really cracked the cardiologist up. Instead of saying, "OK", he said I switched into my Japanese accent, and said, "Ah So Desu-Ka! That makes perfect sense!".

I remember the event and that one (angina) pain; I didn't remember the conversation very clearly. All in all, I'd say the anesthesiologist did pretty well... ;-}