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What to Know About Your Surgery:
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Your surgery will take place in one of our 16 operating rooms (ORs). On the day before your surgery, we ask that you remain on the ward at all times unless a nurse tells you otherwise. A preoperative teaching film is available for viewing. Please ask your nurse if you would like to see it. Before your operation, your doctor will describe the surgery he or she will do. Don't hesitate to ask questions. The day before your operation, an anesthetist (nurse) or anesthesiologist (physician) will interview you. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have about your anesthesia. The ward staff will teach you what you need to do after surgery to help you recover. They will also prepare you for surgery and answer your questions.
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You will be asked to sign a consent form stating that the procedure, the risks, the expected benefit to your health and alternate forms of treatment have all been discussed with you, and that you agree to the operation and anesthesia described. The evening before or the morning of the surgery, you may have the hair shaved from the area of your surgery. This is referred to as a "surgical prep." You can also expect to shower with a special antiseptic at least twice. Your doctor may also order an enema, depending on the site of your surgery. This is to prevent infection from bowel contents into the abdominal cavity.
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Do not eat, drink, or smoke after midnight before the day of your surgery unless your nurse tells you otherwise. You may receive intravenous (IV) fluids, starting the morning of surgery. These provide a route for medications and will supply your water and nourishment. When your nurse tells you the OR staff will be coming to pick you up, you should use the bathroom and urinate. You should also check to make sure you've removed all rings, prosthetic devices, dentures, and contact lenses or glasses. Leave them with a family member or in the hospital safe while you are in surgery.
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You must remove fingernail polish - even clear polish - as it can interfere with visual and monitoring checks. You may also receive medication, which will help you relax and make you sleepy. You should stay in bed after that. When you are going down to the operating room, you may wear only a hospital gown, which is supposed to open in the back. This means no socks, underwear, glasses, slippers or other items. You will be covered with sheets and a blanket. You will be taken first to the holding area and then to the OR when they are ready for you. There you will meet your nurse for that area. During the procedure, we encourage your family to wait in the surgical waiting room on the fourth floor.
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Please check signs or ask a staff member for the exact location. Before you go to surgery, please let the doctor know that your family will be waiting in this area so someone will be able to speak with them after the procedure as soon as possible. For most surgical procedures, you will be taken from the operating room to the recovery room for observation before being transferred back to your ward. The recovery room is an open ward (no private rooms) where all of the beds are equipped with side rails that are lowered only when a staff member is at the bedside. When you arrive there, the nursing staff will talk with you to judge how aware you are. They'll check your dressings and incision sites, and will probably put a mask over your face and tell you to breathe deeply. The mask provides oxygen so that your head will clear more rapidly from anesthesia. The recovery room staff will also frequently check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and rate of breathing.
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In most cases, only parents of small children are allowed to visit this area. In recovery, and later on your ward, you will be asked to turn from side to side in your bed, cough, and take deep breaths. This is important to expand your lungs and prevent pneumonia. Holding your hand or a pillow firmly over your incision will help minimize discomfort when you cough. Practicing this deep breathing and coughing before surgery will help in your recovery.
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Depending on the type of surgery you have, there may be tubes coming out from your body. Usually, the physician will know beforehand about this and will explain this to you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask your doctor or your nurse. Immediately after surgery, you will probably feel thirsty. This is the result of the medications often given for sleep during the operation. At first, you won't be allowed to eat or drink, but the nursing staff may offer you a damp piece of cloth to moisten your mouth.
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When you are returned to the ward, your nurse will evaluate your condition and check any incisions, drains and dressings. You will be asked to urinate in a container so that the nurse can keep track of your fluid status. Be sure to alert the nurse if you are uncomfortable or feeling nauseous. In most cases, he or she will have medication available to stop things from getting any worse. Sometimes these things signal a problem which can be stopped in its tracks with swift action. Teamwork is essential to your timely recovery.
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Remember also, when you are getting up for the first time after surgery, not to get up all by yourself. Call your nurse for help. You might be surprised how fast you can fall. The first time you are allowed to eat will depend on what kind of surgery you have had and the orders your physician leaves with the nursing staff. If you are having difficulty with the diet you are on, please let your nurse know so that your doctor can deal with the problem as soon as possible. And Finally, if you have any questions, please ask them. No question is silly. We will try to get them answered for you.
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