Before Surgery

Please follow these steps carefully before your surgery so your procedure goes as smoothly as possible. Let your surgeon know if you’re experiencing any of the following:

  • If you have any changes in your health (elevated temperature, cough, cold, vomiting or diarrhea).
  • If you suspect that you are pregnant.
  • If you have a latex allergy, diabetes, heart condition, sleep apnea, kidney or liver failure.
  • If you are taking: diet pills, aspirin, ibuprofen, or certain herbal medicines. You may need to stop taking these 1-2 weeks before your surgery. You can discuss this with your surgeon.

After Midnight the Day of Your Surgery

  • Do not eat or drink anything (including water, gum, mints, hard candy) unless instructed differently by the anesthesia staff
  • Refrain from smoking
  • Children under two years old may have specific instructions about eating and drinking

Please Call Us

If we have not reached you two days prior to surgery to review your medical history, pre-operative instructions, and financial arrangements, please call the preadmission nurse. If you have any other questions about getting ready for your procedure, please feel free to contact us.

Day of Surgery

On the day of surgery, please arrive about one to two hours prior to your scheduled surgery time. You will be asked to sign a consent form for the physician and facility to care for you. If the patient is a minor, this form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Pediatric Patients

If you would like to bring your child in for a tour before their procedure, please call us to set up a time. This can help ease anxiety that you and your child may feel. Also, feel free to bring a favorite toy, pacifier, or blanket for your child to help them feel comfortable.

Both parents may stay with their child in the pre-operative area before surgery and in recovery following surgery. A parent or legal guardian must remain in the facility while their child is under our care.

Your child will most likely have an IV in place when they wake up from their procedure, which will be removed after they are awake and taking fluids without nausea. Please bring a bottle or sippy cup if you child does not drink from a cup. It is fine for your child to have something to drink after the procedure.

Morning of Surgery

  • Take a bath or shower and brush your teeth (taking care not to swallow any water) to minimize the chance of infection.
  • Remove all makeup, nail polish, jewelry, and contacts. If you must wear contacts, please bring your storage case for use during surgery.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can accommodate a bandage, cast, or other type of dressing where the procedure is being performed. Keep in mind that our center is always kept at a cooler temperature. During surgery, you will wear a patient gown provided by the center.

Reminders for Surgery

  • Bring all insurance cards , a government issued photo ID and your form of payment.
  • Bring a copy of your consent forms and an Advanced Directive if you have one.
  • If you have asthma or emphysema, bring inhalers with you.
  • Contact the pre-operative nurse at the surgery center to discuss your medications prior to surgery.
  • If you are having knee, ankle or foot surgery, you may require crutches. Coordinate obtaining these with your surgeon.
  • Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to the center, receive discharge instructions, drive you home and stay with you for the first night following surgery.
  • Due to space limitations, we request that no more than two adults accompany children to the center.
  • We do welcome both parents of pediatric patients. Parents of children absolutely cannot leave while their child (minor) is at the facility; they must remain in the waiting area.
  • Please leave all jewelry, wigs, cash and valuables at home. We cannot be responsible for their safety.
  • In consideration of all of our patients who are not able to eat, we request family members refrain from eating in our waiting area.

After Surgery

After your procedure, you will be moved to our fully-equipped recovery area or room where the anesthesiologist and our recovery room nurses will observe you closely until you are ready to go home. Your doctor will want to talk with a family member/friend after your surgery so it is important for this person to remain in the building.

The time a patient stays in the recovery room will vary depending on the procedure performed and the physician's instructions, but typically most patients are discharged within one to two hours after their procedure. Your surgeon will provide written post-operative instructions about diet, rest, exercise and medications.

If you had anesthesia and/or pain medications, arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours. Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone these activities for 24 hours after discharge:

  • Driving and operating equipment
  • Signing important papers
  • Making significant decisions
  • Drinking alcoholic beverages

If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. A nurse from the Center will attempt to call you the next day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia may be provided by a combination of board certified physicians and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA).

Anesthesia and CRNA services provided by Anesthesia Services of Middle Tennessee, LLC.

The types of anesthesia provided range from sedation, regional, and general anesthesia. On the day of your procedure, an anesthesiologist will review your medical history and discuss the plan for your anesthesia prior to surgery.