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.

You will NOT be allowed to drive a car for 24 hours after your operation, so please make arrangements for someone to come pick you up. If you do not have someone to drive, tell your Ambulatory Surgery Nurse when she calls you before your surgery

A Day or Two Before Surgery: An Ambulatory Surgery Nurse will call you at home to confirm your surgery time 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 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, or 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 make-up.
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 Recovery Room/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, 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/Recovery Room. Your blood pressure pulse, temperature, and respirations will be monitored closely. Oxygen by nasal prongs may be placed in your nose. A finger clip monitors your oxygen level. Your Nurse may instruct you to take slow deep breaths. Liquids will be given by mouth when your are ready to take them. Your Nurse and Anesthesiologist will work together to help you have good pain control after your surgery. 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.

Family may wait in the Surgery Waiting Room where your Doctor will speak with them after surgery. There is a phone available where family members may call PACU to obtain an update on your current status. If you have children in the waiting room, please be sure to provide responsible adult supervision at all times. If they plan to be at work or home, please make sure that the Nurse has their telephone numbers.

You will be discharged when your Anesthesiologist, Surgeon and PACU Nurse feel that you are ready. Any office appointments, prescriptions, and written instructions will be given to you before you leave the PACU.

Remember that you may have a dressing (bandage or cast) and some degree of discomfort over the incision site. Wearing loose fitting clothes home is a good idea.

If any problems occur after arriving home, contact your Surgeon immediately or go to the Emergency Department.

A day or so after you get home, a PACU Nurse will call to check on your progress and condition.

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