Day of Surgery

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY OF SURGERY

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ANESTHESIA

Anesthesiologists are specially trained doctors who work with your physician to provide anesthesia (sleep medicine) during your surgery. Your anesthesiologist will call you the day before and answer any questions you may have. You will also meet and speak with your anesthesiologist the day of surgery. Be sure to talk to your anesthesiologist about any medications you are currently taking, even over-the-counter drugs. Your anesthesiologist in consultation with you and the surgeon will determine the appropriate type of anesthesia. Those of you having pain management or “local only” procedures will not receive a call the day before.

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OPERATING ROOM

The nurse from the operating room will come and check on you before your surgery to confirm you are ready for the procedure. Your nurse may ask you to repeat answers to questions you have already answered as a safety check. Your nurse and the anesthesiologist will accompany you to your surgery room. You will be put to sleep by the anesthesiologist (some procedures such as hand or pain management procedures do not require sedation in all cases). Your surgeon is preparing himself for your surgery during this time. When you are asleep, the surgery will begin and end. Many people who wake up after surgery in our recovery room are not even aware the procedure is finished.

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RECOVERY

Immediately following surgery, you will be taken to our recovery room where specially trained nurses will closely monitor your breathing, blood pressure and pulse. The amount of time you spend in the recovery room depends on the type of surgery and/or anesthesia you have had. Some patients spend as little as a half hour in the recovery room; others may spend up to 2 hours or more.

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AFTER SURGERY

For your safety and well-being, you must have a responsible adult family member or adult friend drive you home after surgery and stay with you overnight. The nursing staff, using your physician’s discharge criteria, will discharge you when they are assured you are in stable condition. HOWEVER, you may still feel sleepy, slightly dizzy, and/or nauseated. These are possible (and normal) side effects of anesthesia and can last for 12-24 hours.