Anesthesia:

Anesthesia is a medical induced state of unconsciousness that prevents a patient from feeling any pain or discomfort during surgery or any medical procedure.

There are 4 main types of anesthesia:

  • General anesthesia: The patient is totally asleep and unconscious.
  • Regional anesthesia (block): Certain areas of the patient’s body are numbed.
  • Monitored sedation: The patient is sedated but not unconscious. They may be drowsy or in a light state of sleep or they may remain awake during the duration of the surgical procedure.
  • Local anesthesia: The patient is injected with medication that numbs the surgical site.

 

Operating room (OR):

Your OR team will be composed of your surgeon and a certified OR nurse. Other surgical team members include an anesthesiologist and a surgical assistant/technician.

  • A blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm to monitor your blood pressure.
  • Sticky patches connected to an electrocardiogram machine will be placed on your chest to monitor your heart rate.
  • A pulse oximeter will be clipped on your finger to measure the oxygen level in your blood.
  • If you feel cold, please ask for a blanket.
  • You will be cleansed with an antibacterial solution.

 

Post-op care:

After your surgery, you may be taken to the recovery room. Some patients are scheduled to recover in an intensive care unit (ICU).

  • Your blood pressure, pulse and pain level will be constantly monitored.
  • If you suffer from nausea or vomiting, medication can be provided to help alleviate any discomfort.
  • If a tube was placed in your windpipe during surgery, you may experience a mild sore throat.

 

Recovery

Some minor exercises might be requested from you to speed up your recovery process such as breathing deeply, coughing and doing simple leg movements.
Deep breathing and coughing will help clear any built up mucus in your lungs.
Walking and moving your legs will help restore your blood circulation and body functions.

After Your Surgery

Keep the incision area clean and dry. Wash your hands before and after touching your wound to help prevent the occurrence of any infection.

Inpatient

  • If you are undergoing any medical procedure or surgery, make the necessary arrangements to have a responsible adult stay with you overnight and pick you up from the hospital.
  • If you have been sedated or anesthetized, you will not be allowed to go home by yourself and will need to have an adult accompany you home.
  • Keep a light diet the first 24 hours after surgery and drink plenty of liquids to keep your body hydrated and flush out any toxins.

 

All surgical patients, including outpatients, should stay informed of:

  • Medication (dosages and timings)
  • Post-surgery pain management
  • Resuming physical activity such as exercising and sexual relations
  • Resuming daily functions (driving, getting around…)
  • Possible interactions between their regular medications and post-op medications.

 

All patients are required to follow-up on their surgery and make sure they are healing safely. They should be aware of:

  • Their first follow-up visit
  • When their stitches, staples, drainage tube or cast should be removed
  • When they can resume their jobs.