Nail Polish

[ferlew]

Why do hospitals make you take it off, when you go in for an op?

[sara3]

I thought it was because they can judge your oxygen levels from the "pinkness" of your fingernails.. I may well be wrong though!

[alidoc]

The colour of the nail bed can be useful in assessing the amount of oxygen in the blood and the circulation. There are machines that can measure this but an experienced medical worker can gain much information from looking at and touching someones hands.

[pastafreak]

One of my strongest memories of the emergency caesarian I had years ago was having my nail polish taken off in the blink of an eye.

[ferlew]

Wow, I had never considered it could be for diagnostic reasons, thanks.

[Bambiagain]

I think it's because the colour of the skin under the nail can tell the anaesthetist if there are problems while you are under anaesthetic. But I'm no medic so someone with more expertise than I have should be able to confirm this - or not.

[Sqad]

I really have no idea.

I know that I criticise the NHS, but I think that even in the UK, we have machines that monitor oxygen levels without glancing at the nail beds.

My guess?......tradition......it has always been done and nobody has thought to question it.....

[naomi24]

//You'll need to remove all make-up and nail polish before your operation as the doctors will need to see your skin and nails to make sure your blood circulation is healthy.//

http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/o/article/operations/

[Sqad]

LOL......well I never.......

[naomi24]

Ha ha! Don't tell fibs .... we know you did.... many times. ;o)

[vodkancoke]

I went for an op and had Shellac on my toes which is a nightmare to remove. The Anaesthetist tried to get it off but it wasn't happening. He told me not to worry because there were plenty of other ways to check I was still alive! Then told me count back from 10! :/

[pixie373]

Also, in care home, we were allowed to paint residents' fingernails, but had to leave toenails clear to check colour for circulation

[RosaX]

I always assumed it was to prevent any flakes of nail varnish entering the body through the op site. ???