Day of Surgery
What to Bring
When you come to the hospital, bring:
- Your insurance card, including the policy number and pre-certification number if applicable
- A list of all your allergies
- A list of all medications you take, including the dose and the time you usually take them
- A list of all vitamins, supplements or herbs you take, including the dose and the time you usually take them
- Your CPAP machine if you use one and are having inpatient surgery
- Your cell phone and charger
- A bathrobe and slippers if you’re staying overnight
- A book or device to entertain yourself while you wait
Don’t Bring
- Medicine, unless your doctor tells you to
- Valuables, like jewelry or cash
- Young children, although you can bring older children with adult supervision
Checking In
When you arrive, check in at the desk to let the surgical team know you’re here. Arrive on time, as being late can delay your surgery. Before your team prepares you for surgery, you’ll:
- Show your insurance card and government ID
- Receive a bracelet around your wrist with your information
- Sign consent forms and waivers for treatment and insurance
After Scheduling Surgery
Your Procedure
A nurse will take you into the operating room, where you’ll have monitors attached to your chest, arm and finger. These are painless and track your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and oxygen levels during surgery. Your nurse may place an oxygen mask or tube on your face or in your nose.
The operating room is loud, bright and busy. In addition to your surgeon, your surgical team may include multiple nurses and an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
Anesthesia
A doctor or specially trained nurse will give you anesthesia before and during surgery. Anesthesia is a kind of medicine that prevents pain and relaxes you or makes you sleep. Your anesthesia provider chooses what medicine you need based on your health and procedure.
You may receive one or more types of anesthesia, including:
- Local anesthesia, an injection that numbs the surgical area
- Nerve blocks, in which an injection numbs a specific nerve in your body
- Regional anesthesia, which numbs a large area of your body
- Conscious sedation, which uses intravenous (IV) medicine that makes you sleepy and calm
- General anesthesia, in which you’re unconscious during the surgery
Minimally invasive procedures and many outpatient procedures usually don’t require general anesthesia.