State of Dress During Surgery

For those who have had surgery, what have you been allowed to/not allowed to wear? I’m sure it varies between procedure, so what procedure did you have done, and what was the setting?

When I had double knee replacement surgery over six years ago, the only thing I had on during the surgery was my clean undershorts. Prior to the surgery, I had been covered with a white sheet about the size of a large bath towel to keep the cold air of the operating room from giving me goose bumps! When I woke up in the recovery room, I was covered with a small blanket.

I had a gown on for my ankle replacement surgery in the prep area. They knocked me out there so I have no idea if they left it on during surgery or removed it. Woke up after the surgery with a gown on and a cath inserted, assumed it was the same gown as when I went into the OR but I didn’t think about it. I was confused when I woke up and asked what the delay was…didn’t realize the surgery was over!

If you're going into a surgical suite these days, I think the standard of care is to have you completely disrobe, thoroughly cleanse your entire skin with disinfectant, and put on only a supplied clean gown. They will then cover any head and facial hair with a cap, shave any hair that would be in the surgical field, and cover you with a clean warm sheet/blanket. This process is to minimize post-op infections. It is unlikely that you would be able to wear any of your own clothes into the Suite.

I worked for many years in a hospital emergency room. In our hospital, it was accepted that every patient who is sent to the operating room or intensive care unit directly from the emergency room must be naked. It was done this way. If patients are able to stand on their own, they are asked to undress completely naked and lie down on a gurney. If patients are unable to move, nurses will assist them with removing their clothing. Then the patient is covered with a sheet and taken to the operating room. In the operating room, local nurses take a gurney and bring it to the operating table. Independent patients get up and lie down on the table themselves, the bedridden are dragged. If you bring in a patient in underwear, the O.R. staff will make a scene. I once brought a woman into the O.R. When they took the sheet off her, they found a bag of oranges on her stomach. Her relatives slipped her this bag and I didn't notice. The local nurses almost threw me out of the window along with the oranges.

I have exactly the same observation/experience as @Feldon explained in details. I think it is standard in many hospitals.

Almost 2 years ago I had a plate put in my left radius. I wore only the surgical gown and my sling on my right arm. Made it a bit difficult to keep a watch on my blood pressure in that situation. That was the day I learned an ankle can be used.

The surgeries i remember were my eye surgeries where i had to wear patient gown with disposable shoe wear and a cap. For my dental surgery where i got my wisdom teeth removed i was in my casual clothing, drapes covering everything on my body but my mouth

I've had multiple cystoscopies, colonoscopy all wearing just a hospital gown and socks. A sheet laying over me each time.