Dr Saravanan Rathinam 2018-05-29 Person 5 5 0

On 22 May I had elbow surgery at the Spire Hospital in Harpenden. The anaesthetist was Dr Saravanan Rathinam . Despite reading all of the really helpful information on general anaesthetics on the Royal College of Anaesthetists website I was still anxious about whether I would regain consciousness, whether I would be able to feel the surgery but not tell anyone I was still conscious, and whether it would be really disorientating. I couldn’t think about it rationally or sensibly and was having sleepless nights worrying about the general anaesthetic and counting the days down with dread until the surgery. When the day arrived, I was very upset. I even momentarily thought about not going through with the operation. As it turns out I needn’t have worried. Dr Rathinam was extremely reassuring, kind, empathetic and professional. He came to see me before the surgery and answered all of my questions carefully and thoughtfully. Once in the anaesthetic induction room he explained everything he was doing and before I knew it I was in recovery coming round! I don’t remember going off to sleep and the recovery was nothing like I imagined, just a gentle feeling of floating (certainly no nausea). Within 2.5 hours I had been anaesthetised, had elbow surgery, come round and was back in my room. To be honest I don’t know why I had wasted so much time worrying in the weeks beforehand. Dr Rathinam also came to see me a few hours later when I was back in my room which I thought was really thoughtful. I would highly recommend him. I should also add that the elbow surgery was done by Mr Tony Corner. He was fantastic and again exceptionally reassuring.