The SMHC Operating Room is a place where you know you are in good hands. Regardless of the procedure being performed, you are under the care of a surgeon who is not only focused on the procedure, but also thinking ahead to your recovery.
In the meantime, you must help in planning the success of your operation.
If you have a change in your health; even a cold or flu can delay your surgery.
If you will be staying overnight; bring an overnight bag.
Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before the surgery.
Take medication as you were instructed on the day of your preoperative interview by the anesthesiologist. Take it only with sips of water.
If you did not bring a list of your medications the day of your pre-operative interview, on day of surgery bring the list with medication names, dosages and frequency of administration. Also, all allergies must be reported.
Wear loose-fitting clothes.
Leave all valuables at home.
Remove all jewelry, including body piercings.
Remove nail polish. Do not wear make-up.
Make plans for an adult to drive you home safely after surgery.
Arrange for help at home after surgery.
Make sure you have everything you may need waiting for you at home.
All patients for both outpatient and admitted surgeries should report to Outpatient Services on the first floor of the Professional Building, located adjacent to the hospital.
Bring a list of all medications, vitamins and herbal preparations you are taking. This would include prescription drugs such as insulin or inhalers, as well as over-the-counter medications.
Also bring any orders your surgeon has given you for specific tests, your current insurance card, and photo ID with current mailing address. If you have executed advance directives, bring a copy with you; if not, hospital personnel will provide you with information and forms.
You will be asked to complete a questionnaire in reference to your medical and surgical history, to include any allergies you may have.
After completing the registration process, you will be directed to the clinical interview and testing area, located on the same floor.
Your adult companions may stay with you during your pre-op appointment. We advise that small children should not accompany you on this visit.
Regardless of the type of surgery you will be having, there are steps that must be completed in order to ensure that your surgical experience is safe.
Discuss with your surgeon the nature of the surgery. Ensure that all other questions pertaining to your surgery and the care afterward are answered to your satisfaction, including an explanation of the risks and benefits that can reasonably be expected.
Hospital personnel will schedule you for pre-operative evaluation and testing. At your Pre-op, you will be registered and interviewed by nursing and by an anesthesiologist. During the interview, you will be asked questions regarding your overall health. You will also have tests that have been ordered by the surgeon and anesthesiologist, such as blood work, EKG, and x-rays.
Preparation at Home
Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior to surgery.
You may shower and shampoo your hair.
Arrange to have an adult drive you home after surgery. If you do not have a ride, it may be necessary to keep you overnight at the hospital or cancel your surgery.
Follow any other instructions given to you at your surgeon=s office.
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT the night before your surgery. This includes water, coffee, soda, gum, candy or mints. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow the water. If you have been given orders by the anesthesiologist to take certain medication on the morning of surgery, you may take it with a sip of water. It is very important to follow these instructions to prevent post-operative complications. If you eat or drink after midnight, your surgery may be canceled or delayed.
If you are on blood pressure medication, please check with your surgeon as to whether or not you should continue taking it.
Leave all jewelry (including all body piercings, rings, bracelets, and watches), credit cards, money and other valuables at home.
If your child is having surgery, bring his/her favorite toy or blanket.
When you arrive, check in at the information desk in the front lobby of the hospital.
You and your family should follow the map given to you by Outpatient Services.
When you check in at the designated area, you will receive a band with your name and date of birth to wear on your wrist. Please make sure to check your armband for proper information, and, if something needs to be corrected, please bring it to the nurse's attention.
You will be asked to read and sign your surgical consent and other pertinent consents needed for your surgery.
A hospital gown, robe, cap, and socks will be provided for you.
You will be asked to remove your contact lenses and other jewelry you may still have.
Dentures and glasses will be removed before you are taken into the operating room.
For your safety, please follow all nurses' instructions.
Surgical Holding
You will be transported to the holding area by wheelchair or stretcher. Your family will be asked to stay in the solarium, where they will be given reports by your surgeon.
An anesthesiologist/nurse anesthetist will start your intravenous (IV) line for fluid maintenance. He/She will explain the type of anesthesia to be used during the surgery.
You will be introduced to the nurse assigned to care for you in the operating room; she will again verify your name for proper identification and review your allergies, correct surgical site, and appropriate consents for the surgery.
Your surgeon will meet with you again to discuss any last minute questions or concerns that you may have.
Operating Room
A team of trained professionals staffs the OR. You will be transported to the individual operating/procedure room by wheelchair or stretcher.
You will be asked to move over to the operating room bed, a safety belt will be secured, your arms will be placed on padded arm boards, and warm blankets will be applied for comfort.
Monitors will be placed on your body to obtain vital signs.
Administration of anesthesia will begin.
If you are awake, you may notice much noise and activity in the room.
You may notice bright lights, or, if a video screen is being used, lights may be dim.
Then your surgical procedure starts.
Your Family
Your family was able to stay with you until they were left at the solarium on your way to the holding area.
During your surgery, your family or accompanying adult should be waiting in the solarium. The operating room will be in communication with them there.
Near the solarium are restrooms and a gift shop. The cafeteria and vending machines are located downstairs on the ground floor. Hospital employees and volunteers will be happy to direct your family.
It is your surgeon’s responsibility to talk to your family. However, if there is no family or other accompanying adult waiting when the surgeon arrives in the solarium, the surgeon will talk with you during your follow-up office visit.
Information to come soon.
Successful surgery includes follow-up care. Your surgeon needs to check your healing and see that you are recovering safely. This is the best time to talk to your surgeon about whatever questions you may have with regard to your surgery. You will be taken to the recovery room, also called the PACU (Post-Operative Acute Care Unit). Specially trained nurses will care for you while the anesthesia wears off.
On arriving in PACU
You will be given oxygen.
Cardiac monitor, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter will be applied for monitoring, and temperature will be checked.
As anesthesia wears off, your vision may be blurry. Do not rub your eyes. Noises may sound louder than normal. You will hear nurses advising you to do deep breathing exercises.
Dry mouth is always expected. You are not allowed to have anything by mouth while you are in Phase I of your recovery period; this helps prevent nausea, vomiting, or other complications.
You may experience chills. Taking slow, deep breaths will help. Warm blankets will be provided to you for comfort.
The nurse will periodically check your surgical dressings, pad, catheter, drain, and/or IV line.
If you experience pain and/or nausea and vomiting, medication will be available to help overcome this.
Ice chips, water, or juice will be offered to you, if you do not have nausea or vomiting.
If you had spinal/epidural anesthesia, the movement and sensation of your lower extremities will be checked every 30 minutes to determine if you will be able to walk steadily before you go home.
Following some procedures, you will be asked to urinate prior to your discharge.
You will be continually evaluated and, when medically appropriate, cleared for discharge.
Be sure to have an adult ready to drive you home.
Sometimes, at discharge, you may still feel drowsy. This is normal reaction and should resolve gradually with time.
If you are scheduled for knee, leg, or foot surgery, your surgeon may have ordered crutches. Physical Therapy will train you on crutch use on a pre-operative basis or on the day of surgery.
If your surgeon prescribed pain or any other medication, a prescription will be given to you or your family.
Just before you leave, post-operative instructions will be explained and a copy given to you, your family, or accompanying adult.
Recovering At Home
At home, follow any instructions you have been given. Good post-operative self-care helps you heal quickly and safely.
For the first day or two, have someone around who can help you and watch for problems that may occur. Make sure this person knows what you can (and cannot) eat, the medications you should take, and other instructions you were given.
It is a normal response to have pain after surgery. Surgical pain or discomfort is usually most severe during the first two or three days but fades as time passes. Although pain medicine may not result in total pain relief, you should be comfortable. It is important that your pain be controlled. Intense pain may prevent you from breathing deeply, coughing, or walking.
Take care of your incision, get good nutrition, and stay in touch with your doctor if there are any complications.
