PREPARING FOR SURGERY

Ameliyata Hazırlanırken - Prof. Dr. Engin Oral

1 DAY BEFORE SURGERY

  • Do not eat or drink anything, including water, from midnight before your surgery. Do not chew gum.
  • Do not smoke from midnight before your surgery until the morning of the operation.
  • You may brush your teeth the night before surgery and on the morning of surgery, being careful not to swallow water.
  • Prepare a list of medications you are taking and bring it with you. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication, including regular medications. Your anesthesiologist or doctor will tell you which medications to stop before surgery and which ones to continue, so make sure to inform them about all the medications you are taking.
  • Inform your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms such as fever, runny nose, or sore throat.

DAY OF SURGERY

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
  • Remove nail polish and artificial nails. Do not wear makeup.
  • Remove items such as contact lenses, glasses, hearing aids, removable dentures, jewelry, hair clips, and piercings. Entering surgery with these items can compromise safety and cause harm.
  • Inform about any medications you are using and any allergies you have.
  • Be at the hospital at the scheduled time with your doctor.
  • During your surgery, your doctor and anesthesiologist will decide together which anesthesia to administer, considering medical conditions.
  • Your nurse will ask you to change into surgical attire and wear a hairnet.
  • If your doctor deems it necessary, you may be asked to wear special stockings to prevent blood clots in leg veins.
  • Before entering the operating room, the surgical team will verify your name, date of birth, and the type of surgery you are having.
  • A catheter will be inserted into a vein in your body to administer fluids, medications, or blood transfusions during and after surgery. If necessary, your doctor may administer some medications to help you calm down and reduce the risk of infection.
  • Monitors will be attached to various parts of your body to measure your pulse, oxygen level, and blood pressure during surgery.
  • The surgical team may ask you again for your name, date of birth, and the type of surgery you are having.
  • There are two types of anesthesia: General and Regional (Spinal / Epidural).

The choice of anesthesia depends on the following factors:

  • Type of surgery
  • Duration and location of surgery
  • Your general medical condition
  • Surgeon’s preference

With general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep, with no sensation.

In regional anesthesia, your anesthesiologist will administer anesthetic drugs only to numb the area where you will undergo surgery. You will be awake during the operation but will not feel any pain. Spinal and Epidural anesthesia are the most commonly used types of regional anesthesia.

Your anesthesiologist will inform you about the advantages, side effects, and potential complications of each type of anesthesia.

After anesthesia, you may wake up with a bladder catheter called a catheter to monitor your urine output.

After surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room for a certain period of time. Once you have recovered, hospital staff and your nurse will escort you to your room.

AFTER SURGERY

How long you stay in the hospital will depend on the type of surgery, the type of anesthesia used, and your individual needs.

Your doctor will provide information about postoperative diet, rest, medications, and when your follow-up appointment will be.

You may experience muscle aches or throat pain shortly after surgery. These problems are not expected to last long.

As soon as possible, your nurse will ask you to get out of bed and walk around shortly after your operation. You may initially feel tired and weak, but you will gradually adapt.