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The following topics will be covered:
The Day of Surgery
About Your Medication
About Anesthesia
Information For Your Family
After Surgery
Before Leaving the Hospital
The Day of Surgery
Plan to arrive at your designated hospital a little earlier than your scheduled surgery time. This will allow time for the hospital staff to prepare you for surgery and answer your questions. Depending on your situation, your arrival time will vary. Please contact your nurse or the hospital to confirm what time you need to be at the hospital. If, for any reason, you are unable to come to the hospital for your scheduled surgery, please call the hospital as soon as possible.
Wear comfortable casual clothing that is easy to get on and off (drawstring - style sweat pants, boxer-style shorts, or loose clothing); keeping in mind what bandages or dressings you might have after surgery. Jewelry, make-up, fingernail polish, false fingernails, and contact lenses must not be worn the day of surgery. All body piercing must be removed. If you have acrylic nails, one should be removed for monitoring purposes. A small locker will be available to you for your personal belongings. Leave all jewelry, money, watches and valuables at home or with family. The hospital cannot be responsible for your valuables.
If you have crutches, a walking aid, brace or sling, please bring them to the hospital the day of surgery. You may need these after surgery. You may also wish to bring reading material in case you have a long period of waiting between procedures.
Once you arrive at the patient preparation area, a nurse will take a brief medical history and answer any questions you may have regarding your surgery. You will be asked to sign an operative and anesthesia permit. Signing the consent form means that you understand your physician's explanation of the surgical procedure. Your blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration will also be recorded. You will be asked to put on a hospital gown, and an IV is started.
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About Your Medication
Be sure to inform your anesthesiologist and physician of your medications. Your doctor will advise you on when to take your medications the morning of surgery. Some of your medications might cause complications during the surgery so take the medications only as directed by your anesthesiologist or physician. You will most likely be able to take your regular medications on the day of surgery, but just to be safe, bring your medications to the hospital and ask your nurse.
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About Anesthesia
An anesthesiologist (a physician who specializes in administering anesthesia) or a nurse anesthetist (a nurse who specializes in administering anesthesia) will visit with you in the patient preparation area. They will ask questions about your health, your family's health history, medicines you are taking and whether you have had surgery previously. The answers you give will help them administer the most appropriate anesthesia for you. You may be given medications just prior to going into surgery to help you relax. This medication will be given through your IV line.
Your surgery will either be done by local anesthesia or a general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is medication that will numb the operative area but will not put you to sleep. General anesthesia is medication that will put you in an unconscious state.
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Information For Your Family
When you leave for surgery, your family will be directed to the surgical waiting area, which is usually located near the patient holding area. They are welcome to stay there as long as they like, however, if your family needs to leave the hospital, they must inform the nurses in the surgery department with how they can be reached. Medical staff will notify them when your procedure is completed, how you are doing, and where they can be reunited with you. We encourage family members to be with you during the later stage of recovery. To promote a restful environment for all patients, we recommend limiting young children to brief visits.
It is difficult to give an accurate time on how long you will be in surgery and recovery. On the average, your stay will be at least 3-4 hours from the time the surgery actually starts. This does not include the 1-2 hours needed for your surgery preparations. The nurses will give their best estimate of time after you have arrived.
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After Surgery
After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room. The usual length of stay in the recovery room is 1 hour, but it may be longer according to the surgical procedure and the type of anesthesia.
While you are in the recovery room, your physician will usually meet your family to let them know how you are doing and answer any questions they may have. The nurses will be checking your blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature and your dressings frequently. They will also be checking the sensation and circulation in the surgical area.
You may have an IV and other tubes for drainage. You may experience blurring vision, dry mouth and chills as you wake up from the anesthesia. The area of your surgery may burn and hurt. Please do not hesitate to ask the nurse for pain medication. It is important for you to try to move around in bed and to take good deep breaths. This will help you wake up and speed your recovery.
After one hour or more, you will be taken to your hospital room. The nurse will stop by the family waiting area to inform your family that you are going to your room. They will be able to visit you there. While you are an inpatient, you will receive excellent patient care in your room. Your doctor, nurses, and staff members will visit you frequently and make sure you have a healthy and speedy recovery.
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Before Leaving the Hospital
Going home after surgery is a happy time, as well as an apprehensive one, as you wonder how you will care for yourself. Following is a list of questions for you to ask your doctor or nurse before leaving the hospital. We recommend that your responsible adult also be present for your home instructions.
Please ask us about:
• Food & drinks
• Medications
• Bathing & showering
• Signs of infections
• First follow-up visit
• Driving
• Bandages & dressings
• Pain (what to expect and do)
• Stitches/incision
• Returning to work
• When to call the doctor
• Activity
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