MEDICAL Services
SURGERY
Preparing for Surgery
Welcome to the Pre-surgical preparation Web site. We are pleased that you have chosen to receive your care at the Elliot Hospital, and we will do everything we can to make your surgical experience as pleasant as possible.
If you would like to find out more about the Elliot Hospital, please click on Patient Handbook.
To save time on the day of your surgery, please pre-register with our admissions department. Registration can be done within the month prior to your surgery. You may pre-register by calling 663-5663 from 7am-6pm or online by clicking Pre-Admission Information.
Your surgeon’s office may give you a packet of information containing various pamphlets about having surgery at the Elliot. If you did not receive this packet, all of the information may be obtained on this Web site.
Patient History
If you are planning to have surgery, a very important aspect of your care is to review your medical and surgical history. This helps your team of care providers better care for you and make adjustments if necessary.
Upon scheduling your surgery, your surgeon’s office may make an appointment for you to come to the hospital to visit with the pre-surgical testing nurse, or may call you to review necessary information.
You are asked to complete a questionnaire prior to admission to the hospital. It is very important for you to be accurate in sharing information regarding any allergies, medications you take, medical problems and surgeries you may have had in the past.
Herbal/Over the Counter Medications
Many individuals take Herbal Medications as part of their routine health care. It is very important for you to inform your care providers of any herbal/over the counter medications you take, as some of these medications may react with the anesthesia. For more information on Herbal Medications, please click on America Society of Anesthesiologists, click on patient education brochures on the right.
You will receive instructions from the pre-surgical testing nurse regarding which medications you should take the day of surgery, when you may eat or drink and what time to arrive to the hospital.
Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, please take the following into consideration:
- Wear loose fitting clothes.
- Do not wear makeup or jewelry, including wedding rings and bodypiercings. If you have acrylic nails, please remove the polish on each index finger.
- It is okay to bathe or shower before your surgery. Please follow your surgeon’s special instructions regarding preps and scrubs. Even if you cannot have any fluids, you may brush your teeth, being careful not to swallow any water.
- If you wear hearing aides or dentures, please wear them to the hospital. You may be requested to remove them prior to your procedure. If so, they will be returned to you in the recovery area.
- If you wear glasses, bring them . Do not wear contact lenses.
- Please leave your valuables, including money and jewelry, at home.
- If your child is having surgery, bring a favorite toy or blanket along.
- If your surgeon’s office has instructed you to bring any x-rays or paperwork with you, please do so.
On the day of surgery, check in at the Registration Desk and you will be directed to the Surgical Day Care area on the second floor. Please arrive promptly at your scheduled time. Your family/friends may accompany you, but will be asked to wait in the Surgical Waiting Room while you are being settled. A Surgical Day Care nurse will prepare you for surgery and will set up your IV (intravenous). Any testing (i.e: labs, EKG) will be done. An anesthesiologist will interview you and determine what kind of anesthesia is appropriate for you and obtain your consent. Your surgeon may stop by to answer any last minute questions you may have. An Operating Room nurse will also visit you.
If any special procedures are necessary for your care (ie; arterial lines, spinal, epidural), you will be transferred to the Recovery Room (PACU) before going to surgery.
After Your Surgery
Unless you have a local anesthetic or minimal anesthesia, you will most likely go to the PACU immediately after surgery. If you are staying overnight or longer, you will be transferred to the in-patient area when you are ready for discharge from the PACU.
If you are going home the same day, you will continue your recovery in the Surgical Day Care area. There you will be given instructions for your care at home. You maybe given prescriptions to be filled on your way home.
Be sure to have an adult ready to drive you home. You will not be allowed to drive following anesthesia. It is recommended that someone stay with you overnight.
For more information on surgery at the Elliot Hospital, please click Surgery at the Elliot Hospital.
For more information on the surgery/recovery experience, please click on Post Anesthesia Care Unit .
For information on the surgical waiting room, please click on Welcome to the Surgical Waiting Area.
Pain Management
Following surgery, successful management of your pain is extremely important. You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10; 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine. As you are waking up from anesthesia, it may be difficult for you to rate your pain. Your nurses will evaluate your pain by assessing your blood pressure, facial expressions, verbal complaints and your overall status.
The Recovery Room, Surgical Day Care nurses and Anesthesia make every effort to provide you comfort following your surgery.
Please review the following pain scales used at the Elliot Hospital.
Please visit any of the following web sites for more information on controlling your pain after surgery.
www.virtual-anaesthesia-textbook.com/vat/pain.html#patient
www.southshoreanesthesia.com/patient_guide/guide_surgical_post.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=8A8C4709-444B-4B6B-80567CD9103DC375
http://www.ppaa.com/FAQ_AcutePain.html
Advanced Directives
All individuals over the age of 18, are encouraged to complete Advance Directives. An Advanced Directive is a legal document, written in advance of an illness in which you may not be able to make decisions regarding your health care. The Social Services Department at Elliot Hospital is happy to assist you. Please contact Social Services before your surgery. The day of your surgery is not the time to be making these decisions. Please click on Advanced Directives for more information.
We hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any questions about your surgical experience, please call 663-2599.
