Pre-Op / Post-Op Instructions

You’ll have a preoperative interview where we’ll review your medical history, explain what to expect, and answer any questions you may have.

• COVID testing will be performed for symptomatic surgical patients
• You’ll receive written information about your procedure, your care team, what to do in the days prior to your surgery, and how to help yourself heal after you go home
• Depending on your individual medical needs, you may be asked to have preoperative testing such as lab work or an EKG
• You may be asked to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor, cardiologist, or other specialist to have medical clearance before surgery. We want to be sure that you are as healthy as can be to have your ambulatory surgery and can go home safely
• You won’t be able to drive yourself home after your surgery, so please be sure to make arrangements to get home after your discharge

When you arrive at the surgery center, a nurse will check your vital signs, review your medications, and start your IV.

• You will see your surgeon to review the plan again and have the time to ask any final questions
• You and your surgeon will mark the surgical site as well as review the consent form to confirm the planned procedure
• For cases that do not require any anesthesia care (which we call “local only” or “wide-awake procedures”), you will not have to recover from anesthesia after your procedure. Instead, you are given a local anesthetic at the operative site to numb the area being worked on. If you are a candidate for this, it will be discussed with you and your provider
• For surgical cases that require anesthesia, your Spectrum anesthesia provider will review your medical history, and discuss the anesthetic plan with you before proceeding
• When you’re ready for surgery, you may be given IV sedation to help you relax
• If you need a nerve block for your procedure to help with pain control, the nurse will assist the anesthesiologist prior to the surgery

Throughout your procedure:

• You will be taken to the operating room and helped onto the operating room table, where your surgery will be performed
• Your team will secure monitors to you to watch your heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels
• The surgical team will verify your procedure with you before administering anesthesia
• The operating room team – which includes your surgeon, anesthesia provider, circulating nurse, surgical technologist and sometimes a first assistant, such as an advanced practice provider – will be monitoring you throughout the procedure

You’ll be moved to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and be monitored as you recover from the anesthetic.

• Even though you may not remember it, your team will wake you before leaving the operating room
• Your nurse, surgeon, and anesthesiologist will continue to oversee your care, assessing and treating pain or other side effects
• Once you are fully awake, you’ll be given a light snack and drink to ensure you’re feeling ok
• When you feel ready to go home, you’ll receive instructions about activity, diet, pain medications, and other after-care instructions specific to your procedure
• You will not be able to drive yourself home, so make sure you have transportation arrangements in place
• A member of the surgical team will contact you the day after your procedure to see how you’re doing