What Happens in Surgery

As your surgery date gets closer, you might feel uneasy. But the more you know about what to expect, the less nervous you'll be. Take a few minutes to learn how the day will unfold.

What happens when I get to the hospital?

You'll usually be asked to arrive about 2 hours before your operation starts. A registered nurse will greet you and help you prep. You'll discuss with them your medical history and the medicines you take. You'll also get a chance to talk to people on your surgical team about the operation.

Before you go to the operating room, you'll first change into a gown. The nurse will remind you to remove things like your jewelry, glasses or contact lenses, hearing aids, or a wig if you have them.

A nurse checks your heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. The surgeon may mark the spot on your body where the procedure will be done. A nurse places an IV line in your arm so the doctor can give you fluid and medicine during your operation.

When it's time for your surgery, you're wheeled into the operating room on a stretcher.

Who will be on my surgical team?

A group of doctors and nurses work together to make sure everything goes smoothly. The specific people depend on the type of procedure you're going to have. But in general, your team will have these pros:

Surgeon. This doctor leads the team and does the operation.

Surgeons have to complete 4 years of medical school, plus at least 5 years of special training. They also have to pass a national surgical board exam. The one you choose should be experienced in the type of procedure you're having.

Anesthesiologist. This health care professional gives you medicine that makes you pain-free during surgery.

Certified registered nurse anesthetist. They assist your anesthesiologist and monitor you before, during, and after your operation to make sure you get the right amount of pain medicine.

Surgical tech. They set up the tools your surgeon will use and make sure they're sterile.

Operating room nurse. They help the surgeon during your procedure. For instance, they may pass instruments and supplies during the operation.

Will I be in any pain during the operation?

You'll get medicine, called anesthesia, so that you won't feel anything during surgery. The type you get depends on your health and the procedure you're having.

Local anesthesia. It blocks pain in the part of your body where you have surgery. You'll still be awake and alert.

Regional anesthesia. You're injected with medicine that numbs the whole area of your body where the surgery takes place.

General anesthesia. It puts you to sleep during your operation. You get this type of medicine through an IV in your vein or by breathing into a mask.

What will happen during my surgery?

Once you're in the operating room, you breathe oxygen through a mask. Your anesthesiologist gives you medicine to prevent pain.

Your surgical team will track your health during the whole procedure. They'll probably use:

• A clip on your finger to measure your oxygen levels
• A cuff on your arm to check blood pressure
• Pads on your chest to keep tabs on your heart rate

How will my surgical team keep me from getting an infection?

Before the surgery starts, a nurse cleans your skin with an antiseptic to help prevent infections. They may remove hair from the area and place a sterile drape over your body. It will have an opening in the place where the surgeon will work.

It's rare to get an infection during surgery. Your team does everything it can to protect you. Your doctors and nurses will:

• Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with a germ-killing cleaner before the operation.
• Wear masks, gowns, and gloves.
• Clean the part of your body where the surgery is being done with a germ-killing soap.
• Clean and cover the cut afterward.

They may also give you antibiotics before your procedure to help prevent an infection.

Where will I go after my surgery?

You'll wake up in a recovery room. A nurse checks your heart rate, breathing, and the bandaged area where your procedure was done. They might also ask you to take deep breaths and cough to clear your lungs.

You'll stay in the recovery room until you're fully awake and all your medical signs, like blood pressure and heart rate, are stable. How much time you spend there depends on what kind of surgery you had.

After that, depending on the type of operation you had, you'll get sent to a hospital room or back home. Either way, you'll be ready to be greeted by your loved ones and begin the road to recovery.

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