Before surgery
Find out the details – who is looking after you, where, what time, where exactly you need to arrive. Prepare for going home in advance of your procedure.
Make sure you understand your preoperative instructions (fasting times, pre operative washes etc).
Confirm with your specialist if there are any medication changes you need to make, and ensure you take the medications you have been advised to continue on the day before and the day of surgery.
Pack an overnight bag including
- medications
- CPAP and other medical devices
- mobilisation aids
- phone and charger
On arrival
The admission to hospital is often a few hours before surgery to ensure the you are ready for surgery. There are a number of checklists which may seem tedious but are there to ensure the various aspects of care can be undertaken safely. These will include
- clerical admission to check medicare details, next of kin details
- nursing admission including observations such as blood pressure measurement (this may be done days prior to the procedure in some hospitals)
- you will be seen by your anaesthetist prior to going into the operating/procedure room
There is likely to be a period of waiting between your arrival to hospital and your procedure. It is sensible to bring a book or other source of distraction to help you relax during this time.
In the operating theatre
In the operating theatre you will have monitoring placed (eg blood pressure cuff, ECG dots, etc).
Your experience in the operating room will depend on the type of operation. Within the operating room there are often about six people, all with different roles to look after you. There is often also a large amount of equipment for different purposes.
Your anaesthetist will stay with you throughout the whole procedure to ensure you remain safe and comfortable.
For details about your anaesthetic, see the specific procedures page and click on the one most relevant to you.
Post operative care
After the procedure you are taken to a post anaesthesia room to recover from the anaesthesia and surgery. The time spent here depends on the type of anaesthesia (and surgery). Specialised nurses will look after you and liaise regularly with your surgeon and anaesthetist as needed.
For major and complex surgery (eg liver or brain surgery) you are likely to go to the intensive care unit. For other overnight surgery, you will get transferred to the ward. For day surgery, you will get transferred to the waiting room before going home (you will need someone with you for 24 hours after anaesthesia).
Once home
- ensure you have a supply of relevant medications including over the counter medications such as paracetamol
- know your pain relief regime
- make sure you have understood any other changes in medications
- know when to call for help as well as whom to contact (ie surgeon/rooms/anaesthetist/hospital emergency department/ambulance). Make a list of important numbers
- for a minimum of 24 hours post operatively, avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or making significant decisions. The restrictions on these are longer if you are taking doses of opioid painkillers or if you have concerns about your ability to function safely