Is it possible to have surgery without an IV?

Question

I have a phobia with needles in my arm. Can they "put you under" first then do th IV thing?

Answer 1

I just recently had my first surgery. Talk about terrified. When a needle gets near me, my blood pressure drops to 70/50.

You can talk to your anesthesiologist before the day of surgery and they can prescribe oral meds that you can take before the surgery day and that say. They can also sedate you without an IV before the IV goes in. Looking away and visualizing also works. Think of a place you love to be. But yes, they can put you out first with either a sedative or a gas.

It is terrifying. And other people have no clue about it. I got through two recent surgeries and two child births. Thank goodness for oral meds and gas!

What you feel is actually a chemical reaction in your body and not at all your fault.

Talk to your doctor. Then make an advance appointment with the anesthesiologist who will be with you in surgery. That's what I did and it made a world of difference.

When healthcare professionals ask if I’m allergic to anything I say, “Yes, definitely. Pain and needles. Highly allergic to pain and needles.”

Answer 2

In most all cases it is mandatory that you get an IV before being put to sleep.
They most generally will give you a pre-op shot to help with the anxiety.
Myself I just prefer the needle stick of the IV and NO pre-op shot.
Please understand that in alot of cases,it is really not a needle in your arm so much as it is a silicone catheter. The needle is only needed to thread the catheter through the skin and into the vein.
Once the catheter is in place,the needle comes out.....alot safer.
The main reason and it is a good reason that an IV is started is to deliver the medicines needed to put you to sleep and to keep you asleep.
Should something happen in the course of the surgery and you need some INSTANT help,the IV is the fastest and best way to get the much needed medicines to you and QUICK!
As an Operating Room Tech I have seen both sides and it is a Chinese Fire Drill to get an IV started after the patient is asleep especially if an emergency situation arises.
110% better to take that little precaution than it is to face the consequences of not having took that precaution.

Answer 3

Most of the time no, because the medicine to "put you under" will likely require an IV. They can use a topical (placed on skin) medicine to numb the skin before inserting the IV. The actual needle is not left in your skin with an IV anyway. The needle is just used to insert the small plastic tube that remains in your skin and the needle is taken out. Good luck!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

first- it depends on what kind of surgery you are having: minor surgery ie: local done under an injected local anestetic can be done quite simply. more invasive, or major surgery usually requires an IV for the reason to keep a vein open incase of an emergency, to administer the anestetic, inject any meds needed, etc. this is why when you go to an emergency they often start an IV just incase they need a vessel and can no longer acquire one. when the body goes into a crisis the blood vessels quite often collapse and are hard to find . the blood rushes to the body core for self preservasion to keep the vital organs fed. sometimes they can give you a gas to relax you or knock you out and then start an IV, but this depends entirely on the situation that exists at that time.

Answer 6

Sorry you don't have a choice. They have to put in an IV in case something goes wrong. They have to have that line there to replace blood if u loose too much or to give emergency medications. When I had my gall bladder surgery they put in an IV when I was first hospitalized and a week later they had to change the IV just before surgery. That was my first time having an IV and it really wasn't that bad.

Maybe if u ask them to put it in your hand instead of arm it may help, that's where mine was.

Good luck with your surgery.

Answer 7

Usually they "put you under" by injecting meds into the IV. Let your doctor know this is a problem for you and they can give you something that will make you very sleepy and relaxed before they start the iv.

Answer 8

NO... they need to do the IV first.

I have the same problem and have avoided having children because of it.

However, I recently finished with hypnotherapy to get rid of my fears, and the last time I went to the doc for a blood test, I didn't even break a sweat! It was the first time in a decade a doctor took blood from me where I didn't pass out!!

Answer 9

It does depend on the surgery. Not all surgeries require an IV line, however it is advisable to use one for precaution's sake. There have been vast advances in the world of hypnotic anesthesia. (I AM NOT A DOCTOR).

Answer 10

Your fear should be adressed with the surgeon.

There are things they can do for your fears and anxiety, that will keep you from focusing on the needle. I dont have this fear but my ex does. We have worked around it twice, but it will depend on the type of surgery that you require on what5 your other options are.