‘Terrifying' reality of what really happens when you get put under for surgery

Most of us don't like to think too much about what exactly happens when we're put under general anaesthetic for surgery.

After all, the thought of being operated on and being totally unconscious is a pretty unsettling thought.

So, unless you're a doctor or you work in the medical field, you probably have no idea what actually happens once you're out.

However, if you've ever been curious to know what can happen during an op, one TikTok account has provided a demonstration using a mannequin named 'Vivienne'.

In some operations, a ventilator is used to make sure that a patient retains good airflow while they're under anaesthetic, which Very Well Health explains is due to the impact the anaesthetic has on the muscles we use to inhale and exhale.

"General anesthesia lowers the level of a patient's consciousness during surgery. A paralytic that paralyzes the muscles of the body temporarily may be necessary depending on the patient's respiratory needs or the needs of the operation," they say.

"This includes the muscles that allow us to inhale and exhale. Without a ventilator, breathing during general anesthesia would not be possible.

"Most people are on the ventilator while the surgery is taking place. Once the anesthesia stops, the person is able to breathe on their own and is removed from the ventilator."

TikTok account Echo Healthcare has since provided a demonstration of what can sometimes happen when you're put under and how a ventilator is inserted.

“Have you ever been put under for a dreaded surgery?” the voiceover asks rhetorically, before adding: “Well, what’s happening to [the mannequin] is what happens to us.

“I know, it’s terrifying! But honestly, it’s pretty cool if you ask me.”

Many people in the comment section were pretty shocked by the clip, with some sharing their own stories.

“I’m so glad I didn’t ever see this before my surgeries,” said one commenter, while another wrote: “I hope they are more gentle."

Others recalled their experience using a ventilator, with another person saying: “I was awake for 2 days while intubated after a 5-day coma.

"It is so odd and NOT fun.”

Luckily for those terrified by the video, ventilators aren’t used for all surgeries. Instead the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says it's all circumstantial.

According to a page on NHLBI’s website - fittingly titled 'Who Needs a Ventilator' - not every surgery necessary requires the use of a ventilator.

“You may need a ventilator if you are going to have surgery with general anesthesia,” the site explains.

“The medicines used for anesthesia can affect your normal breathing. A ventilator helps control your breathing.”

Other methods, such as receiving oxygen through a face mask rather than a breathing tube, can also be used.