operations...

[missjef]

after watching nip/tuck it made me think why do you have to count backwards from 10 when the anaesthesia is kicking in, why not forwards from 1, or why do you have to count anyway?

many thank

[laurence2]

Tradition.

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 we have lift off, or 3,2,1 Go etc etc

[bellasasha]

i had an operation and wasnt asked to count down...they just kept telling me really bad jokes and i dont remember the punchline cos i zonked out!!!!

lol

[Pippa68]

Reminds me of when I had to go for a D&C following a miscarriage. The orderly was wheeling me down to theatre singing 'Like A Virgin'..it totally relaxed me!

And yes..it is the 'lift off' theory..and you usually fall asleep before you get to 6 ;o)

[Jinglepot]

I've worked in Theatres for 20 years and never heard an anaesthetist ask a patient to count backwards or forwards for that matter.

[Scarlett]

I think they do it to give you something else to focus on as they are giving you the injection. My Doctor or nurse always says "So what job do you do?" as they are injecting me, to detract my brain from the pain! They never bother to listen to my reply!

[enidblyton]

The counting was done many years ago for children having surgery.

[Ambrose]

The counting backwards was traditionally used when Ether was the mainstay of anaesthesia, because it had such a slow onset time

Today's agents work much faster and predictably, so no need for counting.

It always surprises me how many patients ask me when they should start counting though!