- You will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). This is an open room with many patients awakening from anesthesia. Visitors are generally not allowed in the Inpatient PACU. Discuss any questions or concerns with your nurse.
- You will be observed closely until you recover from anesthesia. Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored and you will have an oxygen mask.
The staff in the PACU will ask you a lot of questions to find out how alert you are and if you are having pain or nausea. - The staff will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10 (with 0 being no pain and 10 being the most). Tell the staff about your pain so they can help relieve it.
- Ask questions about new medicines that are given to you. What is it? What is it for? If you have more questions about a medication, talk to your doctor or nurse before taking it.
- You will need instructions about what to do when you leave the hospital. This may include medications, therapy, how to care for your surgery site, and activities to avoid. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully, including when and who to call if you think you are having a problem. This helps reduce the risk of infection and, if you get an infection, allows for it to be taken care of early.
- You must have a responsible adult escort you home if you are having any type of sedation or anesthesia.
- To avoid reaching and bending, make sure you place medications and personal items within easy reach.
- Have a cell phone or cordless phone that you can keep in your pocket.
- Smoking, alcohol and drug use can cause you to have withdrawal or other substance-related problems after surgery. Please be honest with your care team. We are here to help you prepare and recover after your surgery.
- Your hospital care manager will help you arrange any services you need after your surgery.
