My Unexpected Experience with an Arterial Line Before Major Surgery

Introduction to My Surgery

When I was scheduled for major abdominal surgery, I thought I was prepared for the road ahead. I knew I would have to deal with the recovery process, especially the pain in my abdomen. But little did I know, the most unexpected and initially painful part of this journey would be the arterial line placement in my wrist.

The Arterial Line Preparation

Before the surgery, the anesthesiologist needed to place an arterial line in my wrist. The experience of getting this line placed was far from simple. The anesthesiologist spent what felt like an eternity prepping my wrist. The sensation was like he was digging around in my arm, trying to find the right spot. The discomfort was immense, and despite his efforts for over 30 minutes, he couldn't get it right while I was awake. He eventually decided to place the line once the surgery commenced and I was under anesthesia.

The Purpose and Importance of the Arterial Line

Despite the pain, I understand why the arterial line is necessary. It plays a vital role in monitoring critical aspects of my health throughout the surgery. Continuous blood pressure monitoring and easy access for blood samples are essential for the anesthesiologist to keep track of my condition and adjust medications as needed. Knowing its importance helped me come to terms with the discomfort it caused.

Post-Surgery Reflections

After the surgery, my abdomen was sore, just as I expected. However, the surprising part was that my wrist hurt just as much, if not more, especially since I had the surgical pain blockers for my abdomen. The area where the arterial line had been placed was tender and bruised. I wasn't prepared for this level of pain in my wrist, and it was one of my first memories upon waking. The nurse asked how I was feeling and I said I needed icepacks for my wrists. Both wrists had been prepped and used for arterial lines. The wrist pain lasted for a couple of days and the bruising stuck around for quite a while. In hindsight, I wish I had been more informed about what to expect with the arterial line placement. Knowing it was going to hurt might not have lessened the pain, but it would have certainly prepared me mentally for the ordeal.

Conclusion

Having an arterial line placed for my major surgery was an unexpected source of pain. While I was prepared for the abdominal recovery, the wrist pain caught me off guard. Understanding the importance of the arterial line helped me cope with the experience, but it was undoubtedly one of the more challenging aspects of my surgery. If you're facing a similar procedure, I hope my experience prepares you better for what to expect and helps you navigate the complexities of surgery with a bit more ease.

My arterial line brusing a few hours after surgery.

My arterial line brusing five days after surgery.