Day Surgery

Day surgery means you go to the hospital on the day of your operation and go home the same day, usually a few hours after your operation.  Your participation in your recovery is an important part of making your hospital visit as smoothly as possible.

Prior to Day Surgery

You may find it helpful to prepare ahead for your surgery and recovery.  Prepare some meals and freeze them for use while recovering at home.

You must arrange for a responsible adult to be available at the time of discharge to take you home and to stay with you the first night after your surgery.  If you have no escort, your surgery may be cancelled or you may be asked to sign a release form.

DO NOT eat anything after midnight (including candies / chewing gum) the night before your operation.  If instructed, take medication with a sip of water before coming to the hospital.  Up to four hours prior to surgery time, you may have up to two cups of clear fluids:  coffee or tea with sweetener (no cream, milk or whitener), water, clear apple or cranberry juice, and/or carbonated soft beverages.  Clear fluids do not include citrus fruit drinks or alcohol.

If you have crutches or a cane and may need them after the operation, please bring them with you.

Plan on being at the hospital for about 4 to 5 hours.

Bring an interpreter if you speak sign language or you do not speak English.

If instructed, bring x-rays, laboratory test results and physician forms.

On Day of Surgery

Upon arrival at the hospital, proceed to the Day Surgery Department.  Members of your health care team will be asking you questions about your health and medications.  Please discuss any concerns or questions that you or your family have with the team.  Staff will talk to you about the activities / exercises to be done after your operation.  They will also be teaching you how to manage your pain after the operation.

Prior to surgery you will meet with the nurses to discuss your health, medications and any concerns; change into a hospital gown; remove all jewellery, dentures, contact lenses, nail polish and makeup; and store your belongings in a locker.

In the operating room you will meet with the operating room nurses, anaesthesiologist and your physician and discuss your health, medications and any concerns.  An intravenous line (IV) will be put in your arm which will give you fluids and medications.  You will also be given medication to make you comfortable during your surgery.  The medication will either freeze your operative limb or put you to sleep.

In the recovery room:

• Pain medication will be offered to help make you more comfortable.
• Your intravenous line will still be in place to provide fluids and pain medications while you are in the recovery room.
• If you have a local anaesthetic, you may go from the operating room directly back to Day Surgery.
• It is important to take deep breaths and move your limbs as instructed.
• It is important to tell your team members if you have any of the following:
  • Problems controlling your pain
  • Unusual feelings of numbness and/or tingling
  • Problems with your IV
  • Difficulty breathing / chest pain
  • Problems passing your urine
  • Other concerns

Upon your return to Day Surgery you should inform members of your health care team if you:

• Have numbness or feelings of pins and needles in your operative limb (this may be expected if local anaesthetic was placed into the surgical site to help with postoperative pain control)
• Feel dizzy or nauseated
• Need pain medication and rate your pain
• Are feeling unwell

Your health care team will:

• Provide a drink and a snack if your stomach is settled
• Assist in notifying your escort of the time to take you home
• Teach you exercises as needed
• Give you an ice pack and pain medication as needed
• Check your dressing
• Take our your intravenous line
• Assist you to get out of bed

The nurses will prepare you for discharge by walking you to the bathroom if needed; reviewing the information on how to care for yourself at home; and giving you discharge papers, a prescription(s) for pain medication and an appointment to see your doctor.

Before you go home it is important that you:

• Have good circulation to your operative area
• Are comfortable
• Have minimal dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting
• Have an escort and someone staying overnight
• Discuss with staff when you should restart regular medications
• Have the necessary follow-up appointment(s) and a prescription(s) for pain medication
• Inform your driver of where to park and how to let you know that he/she has arrived. One of the staff will take you to the appropriate entrance and assist you into the vehicle.
• Remember to review the discharge instructions and do only very light activity for the next 24 hours.