Why no rings during c-section?

ArcticFox · August 2009

I know I've been asked to take off my jewelry for every major or minor surgery - I'm just curious why .. and why to the point of they supposedly cut your rings off if you can't get them off? I am just thinking if I were rushed into an emergency c-section would they stop everything if my rings were stuck to go through the task of cutting them off? (And is that true?)

AMYfromKY · August 2009

Maybe they aren't sterile?

shainababygirl · August 2009

I've always thought that it was so that if something went missing, you couldn't blame the hospital.

The cutting it off part... no idea.

mandolynn81 · August 2009

Last time my husband was in surgery they taped up his wedding ring so that none of it was exposed.?

SafetyWife07 · August 2009

It is my understanding that because of the IV and fluid that you gain after the surgery it may be required that they cut off your ring because of swelling so you don't lose a finger due to lack of circulation that the rings will cause you. Most of the time it's a liability thing for surgery and the hospital does not want to be held responsibile if your rings are missing when you wake up, but with the c-section it's because of swelling and circulation in your finger.

suscq · August 2009

Sometimes the hand that the IV is in can swell up a little and you wouldn't be able to get them off. It would be a liability to the hospital if you lost circulation in a finger during/after surgery because you still had your ring on. Plus if they had to do an x-ray or MRI for emergency reasons, you couldn't have your jewelry on.

ChickadDeedee · August 2009

The reason that jewelry needs to be removed before surgery, is first, they need things to be a sterile as possible to reduce risk of infection. Second, if they need to do x-rays they need a clear view of what they are taking a picture of, and metal will obstruct that view. Last, if for any reason they need to "shock" you, the current needs to go to specific places and metal is a conductor. As far as for an emergent c-section, I'm not sure if they are going to cut your rings off, but if it was in the event that you yourself was "crashing" and not the baby, they will remove all jewelry.

mags507 · August 2009

Because a c-section is a major surgery and doctors often use an instrument to control bleeding that works by using an electric current to cauterize bleeding vessels. Any metal can interfere and redirect the current to the wrong place. Also, in the event of swelling from IV fluids, you won't want your ring to potentially cut off circulation to a finger.

A ring on your finger won't interfere with any xrays (why would they xray your hand during/after a c-section anyway?) and an emergent MRI is rarely necessary in ANY situation, much less a routine or emergent c-section.

jillianfries · August 2009

I had surgery about a month ago and I have an earring I couldn't take out. I asked this and they told me it can burn you if any equipment malfunctions or something like that. They made me put tape on it.

fallbride00 · August 2009

The electrocautery that they use during surgery can be redirected to any metal sites on the body and cause a burn. We usually will tape underneath a ring so that no metal is left touching the skin. If it's really tight we always get the patient to sign a release form saying that if they become swollen intraoperatively that we are allowed to cut the ring off. We can cut one off in less than a minute if absolutely necessary.

Want a personalized experience?

Why no rings during c-section?

Re: Why no rings during c-section?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards