ABOUT SURGERY

General Information
Preoperative Instructions
Upon Arrival at the MMOSC
Preoperative Assessment
Regional Anesthesia
General Anesthesia
Surgery
Recovery

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General Information

Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center (MMOSC) is dedicated to providing you with a safe, comfortable, convenient, and painless surgery experience. As the patient, you are a significant member of your surgical “team.” This requires you to be prepared for a successful outcome. To accomplish this, it is important that you understand the necessity of having your surgery, what the surgery involves, the benefits of the procedure, and the risks involved. If you haven’t all ready discussed these issues with your health care provider, please do so before arriving at the MMOSC.

To further insure successful surgical outcome and a speedy recovery, you should feel as relaxed and comfortable with the surgical experience as possible. Relaxation helps reduce the risk of complications and promotes healing and recovery. Knowing about the surgery and what to expect can go a long way in helping you relax and relieve you of the anxieties and apprehensions you may feel about surgery.

In addition to discussing your surgery with your health care provider, you can prepare for surgery in numerous ways. Learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and progressive relaxation will help you gain control over your nervousness. Proper nutrition, ample rest, and being in the most optimal physical condition prior to surgery will also be very helpful. Having a support system of friends and family to help before and after your surgery will be comforting and helpful.

In summary, being prepared for surgery includes being knowledgeable about the surgical procedure, eating nutritiously, getting enough rest, learning relaxation techniques, and exercise according to your surgeons instructions.


Preoperative Instructions

• Plan to arrive at the Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center at least one hour before your scheduled surgery. For pain management, you should arrive at least 40 minutes before your scheduled procedure.
• Please make sure you have followed all instructions given to you by your surgeon regarding eating, drinking, and taking prescription and non- prescription drugs and dietary supplements.
• For your own comfort, it is requested that you take a bath or shower prior to your arrival for surgery.
• Contact your surgeon if a fever, cold, cough, or any significant change in your health or physical condition develops.
• Wear loose, casual clothing and shoes/slippers that can be easily taken off/put on, and stored. Sweat pants and a warm shirt that opens down the front are ideal.
• Please bring your identification and insurance cards with you to the surgery center. You will need to read and complete forms when you check in, so bring reading glasses if necessary. Leave all valuables, including jewelry at home. Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center is not responsible for any loss of private property.
• It is the policy of the Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center and the accepted standard of care that all patients must be escorted to and from the surgery center by a person capable of assisting in case of an emergency. No patient is to operate a motor vehicle immediately following discharge from the surgery center.


Upon Arrival at the MMOSC

• Patients are greeted by a Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center nurse or receptionist. Patients are asked to present a photo ID, social security card, and insurance card. The nurse or receptionist will go over all applicable forms to insure that all patient information is correct and that all documents are signed and witnessed. Patients will then be given the opportunity to review all documents and the MMOSC privacy policy.
• Patients are then assisted to the dressing room by the nurse to change into a surgery gown, booties, and caps. Items of clothing and personal belongings are placed in a plastic bag labeled with the patient’s name and stored in a special area. The nurse will then escort the patient to the preoperative area.


Preoperative Assessment

Preoperative assessments are performed by the nurse and anesthesiologist. Patients are asked if preoperative instructions regarding medications, eating, drinking, smoking, etc. were followed as directed. Health status including vital signs will be assessed and documented. Laboratory results, medical history, and physical examination provided by the surgeon’s office are reviewed by the anesthesiologist and discussed with the patient. Additional examination will be done if deemed appropriate such as a pregnancy test, glucose, or EKG. Postoperative care and pain management are also discussed.


Regional Anesthesia

At the Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center, we are committed to providing our patients a safe and painless surgical experience. Over 90% of the surgeries at the Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center are done under a regional anesthetic nerve block. Regional anesthesia provides excellent surgical conditions for the surgeon and allows patients to be completely comfortable while sleeping lightly. Under regional anesthesia there is no need for breathing tubes and no need for breathing machines. When the surgery is completed, patients wake up quickly without the general anesthetic hang-over and without the nausea and vomiting commonly associated with general anesthesia. In fact, most patients are completely awake within 5 to 10 minutes and are completely pain free. In the recovery room, vital signs are monitored and patients are given something to eat or drink. As the regional anesthetic begins to wear off, pain medications are given if required. There have been studies that suggest that the use of regional anesthesia reduces pain caused by surgery and the amount of medication required for adequate pain control. Giving postoperative pain medications while the regional anesthetic is wearing off usually results in a smooth transition until the patient is ready to be discharged to home.


General Anesthesia

Although most of the surgeries at the Miracle Mile Outpatient Surgery Center are preformed under regional anesthesia, there are some surgeries that require the use of general anesthesia. In addition, there are some patients who simply prefer to have general anesthesia. In these situations, general anesthesia is easily implemented. General anesthesia could be defined, in a general way, as a level of sleep that is deep enough so that the patient will not be aware of, not feel, and not react in any way, to the surgery being preformed. Usually this level of sleep will require some assisted breathing via a breathing tube connected to a breathing machine, and is usually maintained by delivering anesthetic gases via the breathing machine. After the surgery is completed, the breathing tube is removed and the patient is then transferred to the recovery room. In the recovery room, vital signs are monitored, and as the patient becomes more awake, pain medications are given. As the patient becomes more fully awake, he or she is given something to eat or drink and when it is considered safe, the patient is discharged to home.


Surgery

Once the preoperative assessments are completed, special markings are placed at the surgical site. If required, shaving of the surgical site is done. An IV is started by the anesthesiologist, and preoperative medications are given per doctor’s order. The patient is then instructed to void if needed and then escorted into the operating room.

In the operating room, the patient is connected to blood pressure, heart rate, EKG, and Pulse Oximeter monitors for baseline readings. IV medications are given and induction of regional or general anesthesia. Surgical skin prep with Betadine, Hibiclens, or other bactericide is completed. The patient is then properly draped and surgery is begun. When surgery is completed, anesthesia is terminated by the anesthesiologist or CRNA.


Recovery

The patient is assisted from the operating table onto a gurney or wheel chair and taken to the recovery room to be monitored by the Recovery Room Nurse. The patient is evaluated for pain management, and if required, pain medication is given. If necessary, surgical dressings may be changed. When stable, the patient is offered something to drink and eat. Family are brought into the recovery room to visit with the patient until cleared for discharge by the surgeon or anesthesiologist. Postoperative instructions are reviewed with the patient and caregivers. The patient is then assisted to the dressing room and changes into street clothes. The patient is taken to the surgery center exit in a wheel chair where they are discharged to a responsible adult. A postoperative phone call by MMOSC staff is made to the patient within 72 hours from the time of discharge to assess the status of the patient, to reinforce postoperative instructions, and to answer any questions the patient or caregiver may have.