Surgical Services
Things to do before your day of surgery
- Communicate with your doctor all medications you take at home, including aspirin, blood thinners, herbal supplements, and alcohol. Do not use any tobacco products for twenty-four hours before and after your surgery.
- You must plan to have someone drive you home from the hospital after your surgery, even if your procedure is a minor one. You will feel tired and groggy and will not be able to drive.
- Full recovery from anesthesia usually takes twelve to twenty-four hours. You must arrange to have someone stay with you at home during this time.
- If the person having surgery is under eighteen, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the patient and remain in the hospital throughout his or her stay.
- Plan to stay home from work or school the day of your surgery unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Prior to your surgery date, your doctor will inform you of the necessary testing that will need to be done. You will be scheduled for a Pre-Admission Testing appointment or instructed to call the Pre-Admission testing department. You will be asked to provide information about your health and medications. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7-3:30, and Wednesdays 10-6:30pm.
The night before and morning of your surgery
- Anesthesia is safest on an empty stomach. DO NOT eat after midnight of the evening before your surgery. Please do not chew anything. No gum, mints, candy or chewing tobacco after midnight. You may drink clear fluids until eight hours prior to your scheduled surgery time if your surgery time is in the afternoon. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow any of the water.
- Bathe or shower the evening before or the day of surgery. Do not apply any dusting powder, perfume, or lotion. You may use deodorant.
- Do not wear any makeup or nail polish surgery day. Do not wear any hairpins, barrettes, or any metal hair clips.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easily slipped on and off. A hospital gown and slipper socks will be provided. Other personal items are not needed.
- Remove all jewelry and piercings (rings, watches, earrings, navel rings, tongue rings, etc.) Leave all valuables at home.
- Contact your doctor if you have a cold, respiratory infection, fever, or any other acute illness before your scheduled surgery. If you cannot reach your doctor at the office, you can call the hospital operator and she will contact him for you.
- Do not take insulin or oral diabetic medications unless instructed to do so. You may be asked by your doctor to take your prescription blood pressure medications on surgery morning. Bring a list of your regularly scheduled prescription drugs, including dosages. If you use an inhaler, please bring it with you to the hospital.
- You will need to call your insurance company to verify pre-certification/network benefits for your doctor and the hospital. To avoid any unnecessary delay, all money matters should be clearly understood and arranged before your scheduled surgery date.
- In the event you do not have any insurance coverage, arrangements must be made prior to your surgery. Please contact (937) 547-5702 to discuss payment arrangements. The hospital maintains financial counselors who will assist you in arranging payment of your hospital account.
- Indiana Medicaid and Workers Compensation cases must be pre-authorized. Be sure to provide your identification number or claim number at point of registration.
The day of surgery
- Arrive at Wayne Hospital two hours before your scheduled surgery time. Please be on time.
- Bring your health insurance card. Please do not bring any money or credit cards or other valuables with you.
- Please bring copies of your living will, power of attorney and DNR orders unless you have already done this in the past and we have on file.
- Bring a case for your glasses or contacts if possible. Contacts will need to be removed for surgery.
- If the patient is a child, please bring a favorite toy such as a stuffed animal or favorite blanket with you.
- Pay close attention to make sure your child does not eat eight hours prior to surgery. The child, age 2-13, may have clear liquids up to four hours prior to surgery. The child, age 0-2, may have clear liquids two hours prior to surgery.
A registration clerk will bring you to your room. A nurse will greet you and show you where to put your belongings. You will be asked to change into a surgical gown. Family or friends may stay with you in your room until time to go to surgery.
The nurse will check your temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and weight. You will be asked to complete a brief medical history. After this, IV’s, medications, and treatments ordered by your doctor will be given.
As a precaution, women may be asked to provide a urine sample for a pregnancy test.
You will be asked to remove your dentures, partial plates, and eyeglasses. These items will be returned as soon as possible.
An anesthesia provider will talk with you in the preoperative area to discuss the type of Anesthesia best suited for your specific procedure. He/She will also review your health history and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You will be asked to review and sign a consent for Anesthesia.
During your operation, your visitors may wait in the Surgery Waiting Lounge. We will make every effort to keep your visitors informed of your progress. If possible, your doctor will come out and speak with a family member and inform he/she how everything went during your surgery.
After surgery you will be taken to the recovery room (PACU) where nurses will observe you carefully. The time spent in the recovery room varies from patient to patient according to the procedure and anesthesia used. Generally, you will be there for about one hour. When criteria is met, the recovery room nurse will bring you back to your room.
PAIN
Do not hesitate to ask your nurse for pain medication. You will be asked to rate your pain on admission and
throughout your recovery phase and at discharge from the hospital. We use a scale of 0-10 or faces. The rating of 0
indicates no pain, 5 indicates distressing pain, and the rating of 10 indicates unbearable pain.
GOING HOME
Your nurse will be monitoring your vital signs frequently after surgery. During this time, you will be offered food
and drinks. There is no certain time you have to stay with us after your procedure. When you are ready to go, we
will review your discharge instructions so that you understand what to do at home. Prior to discharge, we will make
sure that:
- Your pain is tolerable
- Your vital signs are stable
- You are steady on your feet
- You have been offered water and are able to drink
- You can urinate prior to discharge
These steps are followed to ensure you are not discharged too soon.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
Before you leave the hospital, you will receive a list of instructions to follow when you get home. Your discharge
instructions will include your diet, activity level, wound care, and medications you will be given, as well as any
additional instructions from your surgeon that are specific to your healthcare needs.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY
- Do not drive a motor vehicle, operate machinery or power tools.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages including beer.
- Do not make important decisions or sign legal documents.
- As a result of your anesthesia, you may experience intermittent lightheadedness for the remainder of the day. Restrict activities and rest for a day.
- Have someone stay with you the night after your surgery.
- When taking pain medications, you may experience dizziness or drowsiness. Please do not take any drugs other than what has been prescribed for you.
- Eat lightly at first, and gradually advance back to your regular diet.
- Sore throat and/or cough are common. Gargling with salt water or using lozenges will help.
- If you experience severe nausea/vomiting, call your surgeon.