Operation Preparation

In the final episode of Season 4, the PAAC team explores perioperative care and cancer support and resouces. This episode features the Irish Cancer Society with Director of Clinical Affairs Amy Nolan and breast cancer survivor Anna.

This episodes describes the Irish Cancer Society’s services and resources, funded by donations, including transport, night nursing, counselling, support lines, daffodil centres and welfare and supports teams. It also covers research investment, screening programmes, skin cancer awareness, showing improved outcomes with over 220,000 survivors in Ireland. Anna shares her breast cancer journey, surgery, reconstruction, recovery challenges, and importance of support, preparation, asking questions.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Visit the Irish Cancer Society.
Contact Number: 1800 200 700

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at operationpreparation@stjames.ie

Abbreviations:

PAAC – Pre-Anesthetic Assessment Clinic
CAIA – CAIA services for children, adolescents and young adults
GP – General Practitioner
IT – Information Technology
221+ group – group affected by cervical check screening programme failures
LACES – Life and Cancer Enhancing Survivorship programme

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode the team are joined by guest speaker, paediatric Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Intensivist Dr Suzane Crowe and the PAAC team focuses on preparing children and families for surgery. This episode outlines what happens on the day, including admission, play therapy support and meeting the theatre staff. They describe anaesthesia options such as face mask or IV cannula induction, monitoring devices, and expected behaviours during going asleep and recovery.

The episode covers side effects like agitation, fasting guidance, pain management and recovery expectations. Paediatric patient Emmett shares his experience with delays, emergency re-operation, and reassurance from staff and parents.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

‘Your Little Sleep’ - children’s hospital preparation book by anaesthesiologist Dr. Ann-Marie Crowe – buy here - https://geniusjuniors.ie/products/your-little-sleep-an-illustrated-storybook-for-children-having-an-operation-or-scan-under-general-anaesthesia?srsltid=AfmBOorfJkTIwhnkHDJPqL-ibikw_j63CJccM1vcjVOk7Fs-d_UvWDhl

‘Intensive Care: True Stories of Healing, Heartache and Hope from Inside Irish Children’s Medicine’ by paediatric consultant anaesthesiologist and intensivist Dr Suzanne Crowe – buy here - https://booksupstairs.ie/product/intensive-care-true-stories-of-healing-heartache-and-hope-from-inside-irish-childrens-medicine/

Beano Magazine – Denis The Mennis has an anaesthetic - https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2025-11/Beano2025web.pdf

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at operationpreparation@stjames.ie

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic
CHI – Children’s Health Ireland
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
GP – General Practitioner
Sats – Oxygen saturation
CO₂ – Carbon dioxide

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the PAAC team focuses on the role of The Pain Team in managing your pain after surgery with guest speakers Dr Aine O Gara -consultant in Pain Medicine - and Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist Lynn O Donnell. They explain how specialists use techniques such as epidurals, nerve blocks, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), alongside oral and IV medications, to provide individualized pain relief. Patients are encouraged to communicate openly about their pain, side effects, and previous medication use to ensure effective treatment. This episode highlights the importance of pain control for optimum recovery, including mobility and breathing exercises, and outlines how to manage pain in hospital and at home.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.
Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at operationpreparation@stjames.ie

Abbreviations:

PAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic
PCA – Patient-Controlled Analgesia
GP – General Practitioner
IV – Intravenous
Pre-op - pre-operative
This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Ms Rebecca Weedle, Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist Dr Lauren O Callaghan and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Stephie Keating guide listeners through the most common types of lung surgeries and what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Beginning in the surgical out patient department, to the thoracic pre-assessment clinic, to theatre and recovery, this episode offers a step by step guide to all patients and their families on this journey. Tune into this episode to her expert advice including the best tips.

For more information:
Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Visit Quit.ie here.

Visit the Irish Cancer Society here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at operationpreparation@stjames.ie

Abbreviations:
PAAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic
CT – Computed Tomography (scan)
PET CT – Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography
ECG – Electrocardiogram
CPET – Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
IV – Intravenous
PCA – Patient-Controlled Analgesia
ECHO - Echocardiogram

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the team explains what to expect when having heart surgery. Listeners are guided through the journey from consultation, pre-assessment, hospital admission, surgery involving a heart-lung machine and specialist teams. Recovery begins in ICU, with early movement encouraged with an average hospital stay of about a week. Patients receive follow-up care and cardiac rehabilitation to support recovery. Patient Dave highlights that while surgery is major, it is manageable and that preparation, support and patience are key to a successful recovery.

Tune into this episode to hear expert advice from Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Mr Saleem Jahengeer, Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist Dr Lauren O Callaghan and Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Jacinta Flynn.

For more information:
Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at operationpreparation@stjames.ie

Visit Quit.ie here.

Abbreviations:
PAAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic
ECG – Electrocardiogram
PFTs – Pulmonary Function Tests
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
IV – Intravenous
TOE – Transesophageal Echocardiogram
GP – General Practitioner
ECHO - Echocardiogram

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.