Surgery & medical procedures
If you are having surgery at an Atlantic Health location, you can rest easy knowing that you will be receiving some of the best care in the nation.
Pre-surgical health safety & preparation
When having surgery, it is important that you enter the hospital in good health. In the days to weeks before surgery at one of our locations, consider the following ways you can take control of the state of your physical fitness and overall health:
- Prepare your home for when you return - shop for groceries, prepare and store meals, go to the bank and pharmacy, do laundry, move objects that may obstruct your path, and make boarding arrangements for pets if you are unable to care for them during your recovery.
- Stop smoking - smoking reduces the capacity of your lungs to put oxygen into your bloodstream. If you are a smoker, you can reduce complications of surgery and anesthesia by stopping smoking at least two weeks before surgery.
- Eat right- maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet will give your body the strength and vigor it needs to undergo and recover from surgery. However, it is also important that you follow the instructions of your surgeon regarding diet restrictions (e.g., bowel preparation).
- Care for your skin- be sure to avoid, as much as possible, scratches, scrapes, rashes and sunburn. Report any of these conditions to your surgeon.
- Exercise - staying as active as possible prior to your surgery will keep your muscles strong and help your circulation and breathing.
Anesthesiology care
If you’re having surgery at an Atlantic Health location, we want you to be comfortable. That’s why we have trained medical professionals called anesthesiology specialists, who administer pain medications called anesthetics. There are several types:
- General anesthesia – Administered either via intravenous line or
gas, these medications induce a deep sleep and complete loss of awareness. - Regional (nerve block) anesthesia – This type of anesthesia numbs only specific regions of your body, such as the lower extremities. You may also receive medications that will make you feel drowsy or keep you in a light sleep, so you will not be fully aware of what is happening in the operating room.
- Local anesthesia with sedation – Local anesthesia is injected into a
specific part of your body (generally the incision area) by the surgeon. You will be awake, however, you will probably also receive medication that will make you drowsy. - Monitored anesthesia care and moderate (conscious) sedation – These medications will give you temporary amnesia, keeping you relaxed without putting you completely asleep.
- Spinal and epidural anesthesia – Administered in the lower spine, this
anesthetic results in a loss of sensation and movement in the area being operated upon. You may also be given a sedative to help you feel relaxed during your operation.
Which anesthesia you receive depends on many factors, including the type of surgery you are having and your medical history.
Leaving the hospital
Read more on what to expect when leaving the hospital. This will help ensure a smooth transition and continued recovery at home.
Blood transfusions
Some surgeries may require blood transfusions. Your surgeon will discuss this with you. Occasionally, you may be able to donate your own blood and have it stored for your surgery. This is usually done three to four weeks prior to surgery.
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