Surgery

Planning ahead for your surgery is important. It can make your hospital stay more comfortable and help you recover faster.

Preadmission clinic appointment

If your surgeon asks you to visit our preadmission clinic (PAC), we will call you before your surgery with an appointment date and time.

You’ll need to bring a list of medications and vitamins to your PAC appointment. Your surgeon will let you know which medications to stop taking before your surgery and when to stop taking them.

During the appointment, you’ll meet with a nurse, who will explain how to get ready for your surgery and what to expect while you’re in the hospital. You may also meet with: 

• an anesthesiologist to talk about your anesthesia plan and options for pain relief
• an internal medicine doctor to talk about health conditions you may have
• wound or ostomy nurses if you need skin marking before surgery
• other healthcare providers your surgeon wants you to see

Confirming your surgery time

Our PAC staff will call you to confirm your surgery time between 1 and 2 p.m. the day before your surgery. If your surgery is on a Monday, you will receive a call the Friday before.

If you have not heard from our PAC staff by 2 p.m. the day before your surgery, please call 780.735.7406 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to confirm your time.

Before surgery checklist

Use the before surgery checklist to get ready for your surgery. It will help you feel better sooner and recover faster.

Eating and drinking before surgery

You'll need to follow an eating and drinking schedule before your surgery to ensure your safety in the operating room. If you don’t follow your surgeon's instructions, your surgery may be cancelled.

If you have diabetes, make sure any clear fluids you drink are sugar-free or diet drinks.

Have questions about eating or drinking? Call 780.735.7400 to talk to a nurse on unit 23. The unit is open until 8 p.m.

PAC contact

2nd Floor, St. Marguerite d'Youville Building
Grey Nuns Community Hospital 
Phone: 780.735.7406

Knowing what to expect when you get to the hospital for surgery will help lessen your anxiety and make you feel more comfortable.

We will work with you and your family to help you have a safe surgery. We will ask you questions about your medicines and allergies and when you last had something to eat or drink. We will also do some health checks, such as taking your blood pressure.

Please arrive at your scheduled time.

Important information

• What to expect the day of surgery
• Breastfeeding and day surgery
• Breastfeeding after surgery

Our surgical team is trained to give you safe care during your surgery. Before they begin, the team members will double-check your name, what type of surgery you’re having and what part of your body is to be operated on.

Anesthesia

If you're having general anesthesia, a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) will be placed in your windpipe or a special airway (laryngeal mask airway) will be placed in the back of your throat to help you breathe during the surgery.

Keeping things sterile

We will wash the place on your skin where the incision will be made with a special solution to remove bacteria. All instruments used during your surgery are sterilized to reduce your risk of infection.

Pain control

Pain control is an important concern. Near the end of your surgery, your surgeon may inject a long-acting pain medicine at the site of your surgery to decrease your pain for six to 12 hours after surgery.

In the recovery area

Right after surgery, you’ll be taken to a recovery area where nurses will care for and observe you. They will check your vital signs and bandages. They will also ask about your pain level.

When you wake up, you may have a small tube inserted just below your nose that supplies oxygen to your lungs.

You’ll stay in the recovery area for one to four hours. Afterwards, you’ll be moved to a hospital room or go home. You may receive medicine or fluids through your vein (intravenous) during your time in the hospital.

Day surgery

After your surgery, you’ll go back to unit 23, where you were admitted. Generally, you’ll be allowed to go home in one hour. Be sure someone can pick you up to take you home.

Recovery in the hospital

If you need to stay in the hospital after surgery, you’ll go to either unit 41 or unit 42. If you need extra care after having vascular surgery, you may go into the intermediate care unit. This special care unit is also on unit 41.

Preventing deep vein thrombosis after surgery

After your surgery, it is important to prevent blood clots from forming in your body because you’re not moving as much as you normally do.

Getting up and moving during your recovery are some of the best ways to prevent blood clots. Staying well hydrated by drinking ample amounts of water can also reduce your risk. Your doctor may also prescribe medication such as Tinzaparin to prevent clots from forming. 

Going home

How long you stay in the hospital depends on your surgery and other things related to your health. In most cases, you’re ready to go home from the hospital when you start to feel better.

Your ride home cannot be a taxi or other pickup service.

Recovering at home

You may need help once you’re home. It may take up to a few months before you fully recover. Talk to your healthcare team if you have any concerns about your recovery.

• After your surgery
• What to expect at home after a surgery
• Discharge and home