What to Expect During Outpatient Surgery Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide
Preparing for outpatient surgery? Discover what to expect before, during, and after your procedure. Get answers to common questions and learn how to ensure a smooth recovery.
Navigating the Pre-Operative Holding Area
On the day of your outpatient surgery, you may be asked to arrive several hours before your scheduled procedure. This allows the medical staff to complete any necessary tests and prepare you for the operation. Upon arrival, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and remove any personal items, such as jewelry or contact lenses. The staff will help secure your belongings or have you give them to a family member for safekeeping.
You may then be asked to sit in a recliner or wait on a stretcher in the Pre-Operative Holding Area. A nurse will take your vital signs, perform a nursing assessment, review your medications, and answer any questions you may have. An intravenous (I.V.) line will also be placed in a vein in your hand or arm to provide fluids and medications during the surgery.
Meeting Your Anesthesia Provider
Before you are taken to the operating room, you will have the opportunity to meet your anesthesia provider and other members of the surgical team. The anesthesia provider will examine you, review your medical and anesthesia history, and the results of any tests you may have undergone. They will explain the type of anesthesia you will receive and answer any additional questions you may have.
Depending on your health, the type of surgery, and your personal preferences, the anesthesia provider and your surgeon will determine the most suitable type of anesthetic for your procedure. This may include general anesthesia, regional or spinal anesthesia, local anesthesia, or a combination of these.
Understanding the Types of Anesthesia
General anesthesia may begin with an injection of medication into your intravenous line, followed by a mixture of anesthetic gases and oxygen that you will breathe. During this type of anesthesia, you will be unaware of the operation or your surroundings, and a breathing tube may be placed in your windpipe to assist with breathing.
Regional or spinal anesthesia involves an injection that numbs the nerves in the area near the surgical site, allowing you to remain awake or receive intravenous sedation for your comfort level. Local anesthesia is a numbing medication injected around the incision site, which will numb only the affected area and allow you to remain awake.
Monitored Anesthesia Care uses both a local anesthetic at the incision site and medication injected into your vein to relax you, without the need for a breathing tube.
Communicating with Your Surgeon
Before the surgery begins, your surgeon will visit you to address any last-minute questions you may have and use a special pen to mark the correct surgical site. The operating room nurse will also verify your identity, allergies, surgeon, correct surgery, and correct site before moving you into the operating room.
Waiting for Your Procedure
Unavoidable delays may occur during your wait for surgery, such as a hospital emergency case or a longer-than-planned procedure for the patient before you. It’s important to try to remain calm and distract yourself by reading, watching television, or using relaxation techniques. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated by the medical staff.
Entering the Operating Room
When it’s time for your procedure, you will be transferred to the operating room. The physical layout of the room may vary from one healthcare facility to another, but you will notice a flurry of activity and that the medical staff is dressed in a uniform manner. Do not be alarmed by this, as it is all part of the sterile and organized environment necessary for your safe and successful surgery.
Ensuring Your Safety
The entire medical team will be communicating specific information about your clinical status, current condition, and recent treatments to ensure a strong link in your patient care and safety. This communication is designed to provide you with the highest level of care and minimize the risk of any complications during your surgery.
What to Expect in the Pre-operative Holding Area
What do I expect during the few hours before my surgery?
On the day of surgery, you may be asked to arrive several hours before your procedure is scheduled to begin. This allows the staff to complete any tests that cannot be performed until the day of surgery. You will be taken into an area where you will be asked to remove all of your clothing and jewelry and you will be given a hospital gown. This is sometimes called the Pre-Operative Holding Area. The staff will help secure your belongings, or have you give them to your family for safekeeping.
You may then sit in a recliner or wait on a stretcher. A nurse may have you sign any necessary paperwork. He or she will take vital signs, do a nursing assessment, and review your medications and the time you took them as well as answer any questions you may have. An Intravenous (I.V.) line will be placed in a vein in your hand or arm. The purpose of the I.V.
is to provide fluid and medications during the operation. You must remove all hairpins, dentures, contact lens, glasses and bridgework, unless the nursing staff tells you that you can keep these items.
Will I be able to talk to my anesthesiologist before surgery?
Yes. You will meet your anesthesia provider, and other members of the team, before you go into the operating room. The anesthesia provider will examine you, review your medical and anesthesia history and the results of any tests you may have had done. The anesthesiologist will explain to you the type of anesthesia you will get, and will answer any further questions you may have. Depending on your health, the type of surgery and your personal wishes, the anesthesia provider and your surgeon will determine the type of anesthetic that is best for you.
Will I be asleep for my procedure?
There are several types of anesthetic techniques available for your surgery ranging from local to general anesthesia.
- General anesthesia may begin with medicine injected into your intravenous. You may also be given a mixture of anesthetic gases with oxygen to breathe. You will not be aware of the operation or your surroundings. A breathing tube may be placed into your windpipe to help you breathe during the operation. (This is why some patients may have a slight sore throat on the day after surgery).
- Regional or spinal anesthesia is an injection that produces numbness around nerves in area near the surgical procedure. Epidural or spinal blocks help numb the abdomen and both lower extremities. Other nerve blocks may be done with the nerves in the arms or legs to numb them. With regional anesthesia, you should feel no pain. You may be awake or receive intravenous sedation to your comfort level.
- Local anesthesia involves the use of a numbing medicine injected around the incision site. It produces a lack of feeling, or numbness, in that area only. The rest of the body is not affected.
You will be awake but free from pain. The surgeon often administers this type of anesthetic, since only a small part of the body is affected. - Monitored Anesthesia Care uses both a local anesthetic at the incision site and medicine injected into the vein to relax you. This type of anesthesia does not require the use of a breathing tube. You will be awake after surgery is completed.
You will be awake but free from pain. The surgeon often administers this type of anesthetic, since only a small part of the body is affected.Will I get to speak with my surgeon?
Your surgeon will visit you before starting the surgery to ask you if you have any last minute questions and will use a special pen to mark the correct surgery site.
How does the staff keep me safe?
The operating room nurse will verify your identity, allergies, surgeon, correct surgery, and correct site before moving you into the operating room. All team members will be communicating specific information about your clinical status, including your current condition and recent treatments. This communication is designed to ensure a strong link for your patient care and your safety.
After I am checked in, how long do I wait for surgery?
Unavoidable delays may occur when a hospital emergency case is put ahead of yours or apatient before you has surgery that lasts longer than planned. It’s never easy to wait, so try to distract yourself by reading, watching television or using relaxation techniques. If there is a delay, your understanding is greatly appreciated.
Reprinted with permission by the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN). Copyright © 2010.
All rights reserved. ASPAN Patient Information. Available at: www.aspan.org.
What to Expect in the Operating Room
What do I expect in the Operating Room?
The physical layout varies from one facility to the next, but once you arrive in the operating room you will notice that there is a lot of activity in the area. You will also notice that everyone is dressed in the same way. Do not be alarmed! When it is time for the surgery to begin you will be taken either by walking or by a stretcher to the operating room.
You may notice bright lights instruments, equipment, and an environment that is so clean we call it “sterile.” You will notice the operating room team members putting masks on their faces, as they enter the operating room to help keep the room free of germs.
Will I remain on the stretcher for surgery?
No. The nurse will help you to move onto the operating table, which will feel hard and sometimes cool. Since the operating room table is narrow a safety strap will be placed across your lower abdomen, thighs or legs. Your arms will be placed and secured on padded arm boards to prevent them from falling off the table.
What questions will they ask me?
The same questions asked of you while you were prepared for your surgery will be asked once more for your safe care. These questions include such things as your name, whether you have any allergies, when you last had something to eat or drink, what type of procedure you are planning on having, and the name of your surgeon.
What will the anesthesiologist do?
A nurse anesthetist or the anesthesiologist will attach a blood pressure cuff, ECG leads (sticky pads with little “nubs” on the end that will be used to monitor your heart during surgery), and a pulse oximeter (a plastic clip attached to your fingertip and used to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood during surgery.) If you are receiving a general anesthetic, you may be given a mask and asked to breathe deeply. The nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist may inject anesthetic into your I.V. to relax you and make you comfortable. Some patients report the medication burns slightly or feels “tight” at the site of the intravenous.
What is a time out?
A “Pause” or “Time Out” will take place just before starting your surgery/procedure by everyone in the room with you. This is a final proof that everyone agrees they have the correct patient, procedure, side, site, position and the presence of any implants or special equipment if needed.
How long will I be in surgery?
Your time in the operating room will depend on the type of surgery/procedure you are having. The whole team will be in the operating room to help your surgeon provide you with the best care and make sure you are safe and comfortable during your surgery/procedure.
Will my family receive updates while I am in the Operating Room?
While you are in surgery your family may receive updates on the length or progress of your surgery. Once your surgery is complete the surgeon will speak to your family. The anesthesia provider will see that you awaken safely and take you to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.
Reprinted with permission by the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. ASPAN Patient Information. Available at: www.aspan.org.
Ambulatory surgery | Your family doctor
Outpatient surgery is one of the most common modern methods of solving simple surgical problems in the world of medicine.
The recommended age of patients is from seventeen to sixty years.
This type of surgical care is used in cases where the disease does not progress and you can not be afraid of its complications with concomitant diseases.
Local anesthesia is used for outpatient operations.
The advantages of outpatient surgery include:
- The use of modern, sparing techniques;
- Minimal risk of postoperative effects;
- Minimal risk of infection;
- No pain;
- The ability to return to your normal life rhythm in a short period of time.
During outpatient operations, the patient does not have to prepare for a long time, the diagnostic and treatment procedures take one day. Hospitalization is not required, which means that restorative procedures can be done at home, where, as you know, “walls help”.
By the way, when equipping outpatient surgery rooms, the latest advances in medical technology are taken into account, which can significantly reduce the time for accurate diagnosis and the immediate time for surgical intervention.
The cost of these procedures is quite acceptable, since we are talking about paying only for the services of a specialist, as well as the necessary drugs.
Contraindications for outpatient surgeries include:
- Presence of colds;
- Pre-existing drug allergy;
- Presence of problems with blood clotting.
At the end of the operation, the patient can go home within a few hours. He is able to move without outside help, he does not have to deal with the psychological discomfort caused by being in the hospital walls. As a result, the full recovery of the body for a person is an absolutely natural process that ends very quickly. If studies and analyzes are needed, they are carried out in the shortest possible time directly at the clinic.
If we take the whole world into account, the statistics are as follows: outpatient operations account for 80% of the total number of surgical interventions, the remaining 20% are dedicated to full-fledged surgical operations.
In our clinic, Andrey Vladimirovich Strunilin, a surgeon, arthrologist, plastic surgeon, Candidate of Medical Sciences, conducts an appointment in this area.
Among the services provided:
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Thanks to constant professional development and the use of the most modern technologies and tools, high-precision diagnostic methods, Andrey Vladimirovich enjoys the trust and respect of patients who seek help.
You can make an appointment or call a doctor at home by calling (343) 251-09-01, you can also make an appointment online.
Patients of the clinic are surrounded by caring and attentive staff.
There is a favorable atmosphere here. We guarantee that our patients will be provided with qualified medical care, and comfortable conditions will be created upon receipt of it.
Outpatient surgery – prices in Moscow, appointment and consultation at the medical center in the “SM-Clinic”
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Ambulatory surgery involves small operations without hospitalization. The patient can contact the SM-Clinic and within a few hours receive the help of a surgeon in a day hospital or treatment room.
Most minor surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques, so there is no need for constant medical supervision. After surgery, treatment continues at home or on an outpatient basis (visits to the clinic for dressings may be required). As a rule, after such operations, long-term rehabilitation is not required, so the patient can soon return to professional activities.
SM Clinic surgeons provide a wide range of treatment services
purulent-inflammatory processes, removal of neoplasms and treatment of wounds.
Treatment is carried out without hospitalization as part of an outpatient appointment. Fast and efficient!
Abscess opening
Autopsy carbuncle
Boil opening
Treatment of hidradenitis
Treatment of panaritium
Treatment of paronychia
Ingrown toenail removal
Removal of foreign objects from soft tissues
Surgical treatment of wounds
The main directions of outpatient surgery
In the “SM-Clinic” you can get help in the treatment of the following diseases and conditions:
Inflammatory diseases of the skin, skin appendages and subcutaneous fat may be complicated by purulent changes. Surgical care helps to radically solve the problem. Depending on the diagnosis, it may be necessary to open abscesses, remove purulent and necrotic masses, etc. Timely operation creates favorable conditions for rapid tissue repair.
Moles, warts and wen can cause aesthetic and physical discomfort. These neoplasms create can be injured, which increases the risk of complications. Removal of neoplasms in the classical way, as well as with the help of a laser, radio waves or liquid nitrogen, allows you to quickly and effectively eliminate the problem.
Ingrown nail plates are accompanied by the development of inflammation, severe pain and often lead to complications (purulent fusion of tissues). Removal of the nail plate allows you to quickly stop the inflammation and normalize the quality of life of the patient. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. After tissue repair, the nail plate grows out of the growth zone. In order to prevent re-ingrowth of the nail plate, it is recommended to install a correction system (staples, threads) at the podiatrist.
Injuries may involve severe soft tissue damage. Primary surgical treatment eliminates microbial contamination of tissues, removes foreign objects from the wound, aligns the edges, thereby creating optimal conditions for rapid wound healing.
Outpatient surgery at SM-Clinic is:
Quick help
The surgery usually takes 5 to 30 minutes. The patient receives surgical care on the day of treatment in full. If a preoperative examination is necessary, all tests are performed as soon as possible in our own laboratory.
Experienced Specialists
The clinic employs experienced surgeons who constantly improve their professionalism. Our doctors have extensive experience in providing surgical care and outpatient treatment.
Modern methods of treatment and pain relief
Minor surgical interventions are performed using laser and radio wave equipment, which minimizes the risk of complications and shortens the rehabilitation period. For local anesthesia, modern anesthetics are used, which have a high safety profile.
Prices for consultations
Initial appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon | 2 200 rub |
Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon | 1 900 rub |
The posted price is not an offer. Medical services are provided on the basis of a contract.