PRE-OPERATIVE
PROCEDURE SCHEDULING & TESTING
•
Your doctor will schedule your procedure with
our office staff.
•
Your doctor will order any tests that may need
to be performed. These may include blood tests,
an EKG and chest x-ray. In some cases your insurance
plan (such as an HMO) may require you to have
your testing done at your primary care doctor’s
office or a designated lab site.
•
Please follow your doctor’s instructions
regarding pre-operative testing.
•
A nurse will call you prior to your procedure
to collect medical history information and provide
you with specific instructions for you to follow
regarding your procedure. The nurse will also
answer any questions you may have and instruct
you regarding your arrival time on the day of
the procedure.
BEFORE
YOUR PROCEDURE
•
If you experience any health changes such as
a cold, cough, or fever please call your doctor
immediately. If necessary, your procedure may
be canceled and rescheduled as soon as possible.
•
Please make arrangements in advance for a responsible
adult to take you home after your procedure.
You will not be permitted to leave the Surgery
Center alone if you have had any sedation or
anesthesia. You will not be permitted to drive
yourself home. Your procedure could be cancelled
if you have not made these arrangements. If
you cannot find suitable transportation, call
the Surgical Center to schedule a complementary
door-to-door transportation service.
THE
EVENING BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE
•
Do not eat any solid food or liquids after 12:00 midnight.
• Solid foods include: candy, gum
• Do not drink any liquids, even water
after midnight unless instructed otherwise.
• Reduce or stop smoking.
• CAUTION: Failure to follow instructions
may put your health at risk and cause severe
complications.
THE
DAY OF YOUR PROCEDURE
•
Take any medications you were instructed to
take with a small sip of water.
• Do not chew gum or eat breath mints
on the morning of your procedure.
• Dress in loose, comfortable clothing.
• If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses
please bring a case in which to store them.
• Please leave your jewelry and other
valuables at home. Remove all jewelry, including
all rings and wedding bands.
• Bring your medical insurance cards and
referral forms.
• Please plan ahead to allow enough travel
time so you will not be late. Keep in mind that
a time has been reserved for your procedure.
AT
THE SURGICAL CENTER
•
On the day of your procedure come to the Surgical
Center of Burlington County located at 225 Sunset
Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046. For directions click here.
•
Following the registration process a nurse will
prepare you for your procedure. You will be
asked to change into a patient gown. You may
be asked to possibly remove any dentures, contact
lenses, wigs, hairpins, and jewelry.
•
You may be given written instructions about
diet, activity, medications and follow-up care.
UNDERSTANDING TYPES
OF ANESTHESIA
• The Anesthesiologist will meet with you to discuss your anesthesia. The type of anesthesia that you receive will be based on your needs.
•
General: You will receive medicine that will
make you sleep and unable to feel pain.
•
MAC Anesthesia: “MAC” stands for
monitored anesthesia care. Local or regional
anesthesia will be used. You will also be given
a medicine through an intravenous line (IV)
that will make you very drowsy and comfortable
during the procedure.
•
Regional Anesthesia: This is a method of numbing
an area of the body by injecting medicine near
a nerve. You will be given IV medicine that
will make you calm and very drowsy. Examples
of regional anesthesia include epidural and
spinal anesthesia, arm blocks and ankle blocks.
•
Local Anesthesia: The doctor will inject medicine
that will temporarily numb the surgical area.
IN
THE OPERATING ROOM
•
A nurse will greet you in the pre-operative
area and escort you to the operating room via walking, wheelchair or stretcher.
•
At this time, an intravenous line (IV) for fluids
and medications will be started. Most often
the IV will be placed in the back of the hand
after it is numbed with local anesthetic.
•
From the pre-operative area you will be taken
into the operating room. It may seem very bright,
with large lights and equipment. If the room
seems cold, ask the nurse to give you a warm
blanket. The nurses and doctors will explain
what they are doing, but you should always feel
free to ask questions.
AFTER
YOUR PROCEDURE
•
If you receive local anesthesia without any
sedation you will go directly to the post-operative
area following your procedure.
•
If you received any sedation or anesthesia you
will be transported to the post anesthesia care
unit (PACU) after your surgery. In the PACU
your temperature, pulse, breathing rate and
blood pressure will be monitored frequently.
•
To assist you in your recovery, nurses will
ask you to take deep breaths to expand your
lungs. You will be asked to move your legs and
arms to check how awake you are; this will also
promote blood flow to your legs. If you are
in pain tell the nurse so that you can receive
some pain relief medication when it is safe
to do so.
•
After your initial recovery phase you will be
transferred to the post-operative area. The
nurse will continue to monitor your vital signs.
DISCHARGE
AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE
•
A responsible adult must take you home and stay
with you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.
If these arrangements are not made your surgery
may be canceled.
• After discharge you may feel sleepy,
slightly dizzy or nauseated. These side effects
of surgery are possible and can last up to 24
hours following your procedure.
•
Eat a light diet for the first 24 hours following
your procedure and follow any specific home
care instructions you receive.
•
For your safety, you must wait for clearance
from your doctor to resume the following:
-
Driving
-
Operating any equipment
-
Signing any important papers
- Drinking
any alcoholic beverages
-
Taking any medicine not prescribed or acknowledged
by your doctor.
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