What to Expect
Before your surgery
You will meet with an anesthesiologist either before or on the day of your surgery. During the interview, you will be asked questions about:
- your general health including exercise tolerance
- recent health changes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- diabetes
- asthma
- acid reflux
- obstructive sleep apnea
- recent hospital admissions or emergency room visits
- previous surgical procedures
- problems you or any family members have had with anesthesia in the past
Day of Surgery
The morning of your surgery you will meet your anesthesiologist and have another opportunity to ask questions regarding your surgery and anesthesia. An intravenous catheter (IV) will be placed to provide medications and fluids. Your anesthesiology team will be carefully monitoring you the entire time you are in the operating room.
After your Surgery
Post anesthesia care unit (Recovery room) Immediately after surgery you will be transferred to the recovery room where you will be closely monitored by skilled nurses while you emerge fully from the anesthetic. A physician anesthesiologist is immediately available for consultation at all times. Any pain or side effects will be aggressively addressed during this period.
Side effects
Although we are constantly improving our techniques, certain side effects from anesthesia and surgery are common, such as sore throat, dizziness, sleepiness, muscle pain and nausea or vomiting. These problems generally respond to treatment or resolve with time. Pain relief after you leave the recovery room is under the control of your surgeon. It is a good idea to obtain and fill your prescription pain medications before your surgery or as soon as possible after your surgery. Nausea and vomiting are not uncommon with opioid-based pain medicines, so be sure to ask your surgeon about this possible problem before going home.
Next day follow-up
We follow up on all patients in the hospital the day after surgery. All Short Stay patients also are contacted by telephone. You have any concerns or questions after your discharge, please contact us at 541-222-7522. We will return your call as soon as possible. Please be patient as we are engaged in the operating room for the major portion of the day. After your surgery, you will be asked to participate in a survey administered by Survey Vitals. We greatly value your feedback and are continually looking for ways to improve the quality of our care.