Hospital for Special Surgery
When scheduling your surgery with your surgeon, make sure that find out how long you will be in the hospital. Depending on the type of surgery, you may go home the same day, or you might be admitted for several days. Make sure to plan accordingly, considering work schedules, holidays, and upcoming family plans.
Medications
You may be instructed by surgeon and/or primary doctor to stop certain medications like blood thinners, several days to a week before your surgery, depending on the medication. Or you could be instructed to take some of your medication the morning of surgery even though you won't be able to eat that morning. It is important for you to bring a list or your pill bottles including all your medications to the hospital with you, including vitamins, over-the-counter medications and supplements, because these may interact with the medications you receive after surgery.
Anesthesia
Your surgery can be performed under two major types of anesthesia: general or regional anesthesia.
General anesthesia involves being put to sleep with medications that are given to you through an intravenous line. Once you are completely asleep, a breathing tube is placed in your windpipe and your breathing will be assisted with a ventilator. You will remain completely asleep and comfortable until the surgery is complete, at which time you will start breathing on your own, the tube in your windpipe will be removed, and you will awaken comfortable in the operating room.
Regional anesthesia for surgery involves an injection that will numb the nerves going to the area involved in your procedure. You will be comfortably sedated before the injection, and depending on your preference, can be either lightly or heavily sedated for the surgery. When you receive this type of anesthesia, you will feel no pain during the surgery. As a result, you will need to receive a less sedative and pain medication, which will make your recovery faster and you will feel more comfortable and have less side effects such as sleepiness and nausea. In addition, the anesthesia will last for several hours after the procedure, significantly reducing your pain and smoothing the transition to oral pain medications.
Recovery
In the recovery room, you will fully awaken from the sedation and will eventually be given ice chips followed by small sips of water. Your doctor or someone from his/her team will come by and speak with you about the surgery and follow-up plan. If you will be going home that same day, you will receive detailed instructions for taking care of yourself at home and a prescription for pain medication. If you will be staying in the hospital for a few days, you will be assigned a room and will go there later that day or early the next morning. While still in the recovery room, your pain will be controlled with the infusion catheter, the PCA, or oral pain medications.
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