Your Surgery:
Your surgery takes place in an Operating Room where a brightly lit, temperature controlled sterile environment provide the safest place for your procedure. Your OR team is led by an expert surgeon and includes nurses, surgical assistants, anesthesiologists and a CRNA.
What You Can Expect:
- Nurses will transfer you to the Operating Room and help transfer you to an OR bed.
- The OR team will help you find a comfortable resting position. Please inform the OR nurses if you have back problems or difficulty lying on your back so we can take special care in positioning you for surgery
- The OR temperature is kept low to keep equipment at an optimal performance , ensure a sterile environment and for the comfort of the surgical team.
Recovery:
You will be brought to the recovery room after your surgery where a nurse will take care of you until the affects of anesthesia wear off. Patients usually spend 30- 60 minutes in recovery
You may experience a sore throat if a tube was inserted in your windpipe to help you breath during surgery
Once you awake you will be encouraged to take some fluids. A family member or friend may join you at this time.
Pain Control:
Pain may increase as anesthesia wears off. Ask your nurse for pain medications to avoid any discomfort.
Before You Can Be Discharged: You must meet certain criteria before you can go home
- Your vitals are stable
- You are able to drink fluids
- You are not vomiting
- Your incision is not draining or swollen
Your anesthesiologist will discharge you with your recovery room nurse after you meet all the medical criteria. The recovery room nurse will review your medication and doctors discharge instructions with you to make sure you understand what you need to do at home. Your escort must be available to discuss and sign these instructions before you can go home.
A nurse or staff member will escort you out to your car via wheel chair but you must have an adult family member or friend ready to escort you home and remain with you after you arrive home from your surgery for your safety and well being. If you experience anything unusual after your surgery such as:
- Fever over 101F
- Your incision becomes more red, swollen or painful
- Your incision bleeds a lot or opens
- You feel too sleepy, dizzy or groggy. (your medication may be too strong)
- You still have excessive pain one hour after taking pain medication
- You have side effects from your medication such as nausea, vomiting, redness a rash or itching.
Please call your surgeon or go to the nearest emergency room.