On The Day of Surgery
It is normal on the day of surgery to experiences nerves -- after all, it is a surgery. We do this every day, and we are not nervous. We are confident we can guide you through surgery day.
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On the morning of your replacement, you will arrive at the time directed via final telephone call the day before. It is very important that you arrive on time in order for all of the steps before surgery to be completed effectively. You will be greeted at the surgery check-in desk, then a preoperative nurse will come out to accompany you into the preoperative area. There, you will answer a few questions, change into your hospital gown, vitals will be obtained, and an IV will be started for fluids and medications during and after your procedure. Your surgical leg or hip will be scrubbed and shaved, and all jewelry, dentures, contacts, or other bodily belongings will be collected and protected for you until after the procedure.
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You are the center of attention on your surgical day, and many different members of the team will be in for their part in your care. You will meet your anesthesiologist for the day, which may also include another procedural anesthesiologist for nerve blocks when applicable. For some patients, preoperative labs may need to be repeated at this time if it was not already done recently.
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Lastly, Dr. Deans will arrive to give you some final information and encouragement before the big day, as well as answer any final questions.
Once we have worked through your preoperative checklist, it is time to roll back to the operating room for your procedure. We appreciate and value that you trust us in your path to recovery!
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After surgery, you will awake in the postoperative care unit with your PACU nurse at bedside to walk you through your first hour of recovery. After a short stay in the PACU, you will either be transported to your room for an overnight stay or transported to Phase 2 to begin working on your same-day discharge checklist.
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For those who stay overnight, it is an expectation that you will be assisted out of bed the evening after surgery to at least stand and pivot to the chair, but more likely to walk to the bathroom or laps in the hall. Your formal physical therapy assessment and education will take place the next morning as part of your hospital discharge checklist. During this portion of your stay, you will have multiple providers as your care team including your nurse, nursing assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, care transitions nurse, Hospitalist, and our own orthopedic team. Everyone is on the same team to ensure your stay is productive on your path to recovery!
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For those who we have determined are medically and surgically appropriate to go home on the same day of surgery, you will have a short stay in Phase 2, where you will work through a discharge checklist prior to leaving. This includes control of pain and nausea, tolerating food and drink, ability to urinate, and having worked with physical therapy.
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This is DAY ONE of your future self!