Patients who are admitted on the day of surgery and patients who are admitted prior to surgery will be prepared for surgery by members of the health care team.
First, your doctor might order a "prep and shave" on the day of surgery to cleanse the area that will be operated on and help guard against infection. Depending on the nature of your surgery, an enema also may be needed.
You will be brought by stretcher to the pre-op area, where you will meet the operating room (OR) nurse and anesthetist who will be caring for you. The anesthetist may start an intravenous line in your arm for fluids and medication during surgery, which you will continue to have for at least another day.
Other routine procedures include applying electrocardiogram (EKG) leads to your chest and a blood pressure cuff around your arm to check your heart rate and circulation during surgery. You then will be brought to the OR, which is air conditioned to help prevent infection. If you are chilly, please don't hesitate to ask for a blanket.
When surgery is over, you will spend time in the recovery room waking up and being monitored. You may be wearing an oxygen mask, and a nurse frequently will take your blood pressure and vital signs. If you are in pain, ask the nurse for the medicine your doctor has ordered for you.
After spending time in the recovery area, you will go to your hospital room, where your family can visit you. The floor nurses will give you pain medicine and let you know when you can eat, drink or get out of bed, according to your doctor's orders.
It is important that you continue to do your breathing and any leg exercises you learned — even if somewhat uncomfortable — since this will speed your recovery.
