Post Surgery Information
What happens after my surgery?
You will be moved to our fully-equipped post anesthesia care unit where you will remain under close observation by the anesthesiologist and our recovery nurses until you are ready to go home. Although the length of stay in the post anesthesia care unit varies according to the type of procedure and your doctor's instruction, most patients are discharged 1 to 3 hours after surgery.
What precautions should I take after I'm home?
Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise and medications. The Center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions. The medical staff will discharge you when they are assured you are in stable condition. However, you could feel sleepy, dizzy, or nauseated. These are possible (and normal) side effects and can last for 12 to 24 hours. We suggest that you pamper yourself for the first 24 hours following surgery.
Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone the following activities for 24 hours after discharge:
- Driving and operating equipment.
- Signing important papers.
- Making significant decisions.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages.
If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. A nurse from the Center will attempt to call you the next day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.
The single most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick and to stop the spread of disease-causing germs is to wash your hands often. By frequently washing your hands, you wash away germs that you may have picked up from other people or from contaminated surfaces.
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