What you should expect during your hospitalization, if you have surgery

Most patients having surgery come to the hospital the morning of the operation. If you take prescription medicines, a nurse from the hospital would have told you which medications you should take the morning of surgery.

After being admitted to the pre-operative area, you will meet other staff who will assist your doctor, including his assistant, the operating room nurse, the anesthetist, and anesthesiologist. After your operation, you will be taken to the recovery room.

Some operations allow the patient to go home that same day, but most require a stay in the hospital. If you stay in the hospital, you will probably have a small plastic tube in your chest that drains fluid and air. This will be removed when there is little drainage and no air leakage.

Pain medication may be administered through a very small tube in your back, or through an IV. A soft plastic tube may be used to drain your bladder.

Our plan is to provide you with the best care possible, and often times patients will be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit overnight for close observation. When fully awake, you will be allowed to eat. You will be allowed to sit up in a chair the evening of surgery. When in bed and sitting in the chair, you will have some stockings on your legs to help move the blood in your legs and help prevent blood clots.

On the regular surgical floor, patients are encouraged to walk and move around, promoting healing and recovery.

You will be given a device to help encourage you to breathe deeply to keep your lungs expanded.

Once the tube in your chest is removed you can expect to go home 12 to 24 hours later. You will be sent home with a set of instructions for care afterward, and will be given a prescription for pain medication. At your follow up appointment, your doctor will discuss the pathology report.