Before Surgery

Week before Surgery: Your Surgeon may order some laboratory tests, x-rays, and an EKG. These have to be done prior to surgery so the results will be available to your Surgeon and Anesthesiologist.

If you are having a general anesthesia, you will be taught to deep breathe, cough, turn and do leg exercises. Take a deep breath while you are lying down or sitting on the side of the bed. If you are having surgery on your belly, bend your knees up and hold on to your belly. Inhale deeply through your nose making your chest and belly rise. Then exhale slowly and fully through pursed lips. To cough, take a few deep breaths first; then as you exhale, cough. The deep breathing should be done every hour after your surgery, until you are up and around by yourself. While you are in bed, remember to keep your legs moving. Bending them up and down and rotating your feet is good for your circulation. Turning in bed from side to side at least every two hours after surgery is very important. Moving and changing your position will help your circulation and speed your recovery. Your doctor may order a type of plastic leggings that gently squeeze your legs to keep the circulation going.

A Day Before Surgery: An Ambulatory Surgery Nurse will call you at home to confirm your surgery time, remind you again of the instructions you need to follow to facilitate your surgical procedure, and tell you what time to check-in at the Patient Registration Office. Please have your allergies, medical history, and medication list ready. The Nurse will instruct you on which medications to take the morning of surgery. Please drink extra water throughout the day before surgery.

Night Before Surgery: DO NOT EAT ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT the night before surgery. This includes coffee, milk products, gum, and candy. Unless instructed otherwise, you may drink water, apple juice, or ginger ale until 2 hours prior to your arrival at the hospital. Avoid smoking and exposure to lung irritants.

The Day of Surgery: Go to the Patient Registration Office at the time instructed by your Ambulatory Surgery Nurse. After checking in at the Patient Registration Office they will direct you to the Surgery Waiting Room. They will notify the Nurse of your arrival. An Ambulatory Surgery Nurse will review your medical history, take your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature and have you undress and put on a hospital gown. If you take any medications regularly, take them with a sip of water about 3 hours before surgery. Usually heart, blood pressure, and breathing medications should be taken. Vitamins, herbs, and other non-essential medications should not be taken.

If for any reason you will be delayed in arriving for your surgery, or have any questions, please call the hospital operating room at 334-3232.

Please leave your valuables at home. Do not wear jewelry to the hospital. You may wear your wedding ring, which will be taped to your finger for your safety. If you are having surgery done on your hand or arm, please remove the rings from that hand. Contact lenses and eyeglasses will be removed before surgery, so bring cases. Dentures and partial plates may be placed in a denture cup right before you go into the Operating Room, or in the Operating Room. You will be able to put them back in as soon as you are fully awake. If you use a hearing aid, please leave it in place, and make sure it has a good battery. If you have fingernail polish on, please remove the polish. Please do not wear makeup.

Patients under 18 years old must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them. Parental consent is required for minors receiving surgery. Infants and young children are special to us. We suggest you let your child sleep until the last possible moment before leaving. They can wear their pajamas or sweat pants. Small children may bring a favorite blanket or toy. We always try to allow one parent to stay with their child until they are asleep in the Operating Room. Parents and child are reunited in the PACU as soon as possible after surgery.

In our Preoperative Area, you will meet the Anesthesiologist to discuss the best anesthetic for you and your type of surgery. Your intravenous will be started here. If the patient is a child, the Anesthesiologist will want to speak with the mother, father, or guardian. A child’s intravenous will be started in the preoperative area or the Operating Room at the discretion of the Anesthesiologist.

During Surgery

In the Operating Room a blood pressure cuff, a finger clip (to monitor blood oxygen levels), and electrocardiogram leads will be applied. Your Anesthesiologist will be monitoring your vital signs. Personnel in the Operating Room will include your Surgeon, your Anesthesiologist, a Scrub Nurse (he or she passes instruments to the Surgeon) and a Registered Nurse as a circulator. Sometimes there might be an Assistant Surgeon, an additional Scrub Nurse and/or Registered Nurse present in the Operating Room depending on your type of surgery.

After Surgery

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
After surgery, you will be taken to the PACU. You will remain here for 1-4 hours and then you will be brought to your room. The amount of time spent in the PACU varies from patient to patient and depends on the type of anesthesia and surgery you have had.

Your vital signs will be monitored closely while you are in the PACU. Oxygen by nasal prongs may be placed in your nose. You will be reminded to take deep breaths. Your dressing (bandage) will be checked often for any drainage and reinforced as needed. If you have had general anesthesia, you may wake up with a slight sore throat. This will be temporary. Your Surgeon will speak with your family after surgery, in the Surgery Waiting Room. Your family will be allowed to see you in PACU as soon as possible.

When you return to your room your Nurse will monitor your blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and temperature about every four hours. Your dressing will also be checked every shift and cared for appropriately. You will receive intravenous fluids until the physician discontinues it. The Nurses will maintain a record of your intake and urinary output. Some people find it difficult to urinate after receiving anesthesia and having an operation. If you are unable to urinate, it may be necessary to pass (insert) a catheter (tube) into your bladder to drain off the urine. The catheter is then removed or possibly left in for a day or two. Again, remember to cough, deep breathe, and move your legs frequently.

Pain Control: Some pain is usual after surgery, however, there are several methods available to help keep the pain under control after surgery. These methods include oral medications, IV medications, and epidural medications.

You will be asked to describe your pain’s intensity on a scale from 1-10. #1 is mild and #10 is the most severe pain. Our goal will be to keep it at a #3 or below. If it’s easier for you, you can describe your pain as mild, moderate, or severe.

Your Pre-Op Nurse, Anesthesiologist, and Surgeon will discuss the different options with you and together you will decide the appropriate medication.

Simply tell your Nurse when you are having pain. You will not become addicted. It is important that you are comfortable enough to move in bed and take deep breaths with little discomfort.

Once your pain is controlled you can help yourself recover sooner by being sure to take deep breaths and moving about. This will prevent complications. In most cases, you will be able to sit up in a chair and walk with help by the evening of your surgery or the day following surgery.

When you are well enough to go home, you will get instructions on how to care for yourself when you get home. If you need assistance once you return home, a referral will be made to our Social Services Department.

Our staff hopes your short stay with us was courteous and caring. Here are some questions you might want to ask your Physician or Nurse before you leave:

• Do I need to take any special care of my incision?
• Do I have to be on a special diet?
• Do I need any medications when I’m home?
• When can I shower or bathe?
• When can I drive my car?
• When can I go back to work?
• Can I climb stairs?
• Should I make an appointment with you?
• What are my restrictions on lifting?

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AFTER YOU GET HOME, PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR.

We hope this page will help answer any questions you may have about the care you will receive before and after your surgery. If it does not answer all of your questions, please ask us. Remember, there is no silly question.

PRE-OP 334-4170
3-4:30 pm ~ PACU 334-4171