What is arthroscopic knee surgery like?

1. Maybe. If you're in a hospital, you might get mesh panties and a pad. No tampons, pads only. Tell the nurse that you have your period. That's pretty common.

2. Nope. I almost never intubate my knee scope patients. They gat an LMA, which is a mask that sits in the back of your throat, not the tube that goes into the windpipe. Rarely, I'll use just a mask, but then my hands are tied up for the whole case. Once we anesthetize people, the chance of upper airway obstruction is pretty high, so the LMA easily bypasses that and is well tolerated. It goes in after you go to sleep and comes out right before you wake up.

3. Nothing is ever definite. Depends on your anesthesiologist and how well you are breathing.

4. Yes. Often with a stitch that's under the skin and is absorbed. Every surgeon does his/her own thing, though. Ask yours.

5. Nope. No need. Catheters are for long surgeries (knee scopes usually take 15-30 minutes), or people with fluid balance issues (congestive heart failure, for example) or for surgeries where a full bladder gets in the way (some gyno procedures).

Overall, it's quick and easy. My patients are usually ready to go home within half an hour of the last stitch being put in.