Orthopaedic Waitlist Surgery

Transcription

1 2011 Orthopaedic Waitlist Surgery

2 Orthopaedic Waitlist Surgery Welcome You are now on a wait list for your surgery. The surgery will be done as soon as possible. It will depend on the number of people already on the list and the urgency of everyone s injury. You may need to be admitted to hospital to wait for your surgery or you may be able to go home and be called to come in for surgery. If you are to wait at home, the hospital will need a phone number to be able to reach you. Someone from the hospital will call you to tell you when to come to the hospital. They will also let you know where to register for your surgery. It is important that you remain at the phone number you have given to us. You will not be able to have anything to eat or drink after midnight in preparation for your surgery. You should also have someone available to drive you to the hospital at a moment s notice. Your surgery may be cancelled if you are late arriving at the hospital. If your surgery is not done on the first day, you will be called at the number provided by 3 o clock that afternoon and then placed on the next day s list. You will be reminded to have nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Please be patient as there could be many people waiting for surgery. 1

3 When you receive a call to come in for your surgery, please come to: o Monday Friday 7am to 5pm: Same Day Surgery Unit Level 5, Halifax Infirmary (through the Robie Street Entrance) o Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: Emergency Department Please remember to bring your health card with you. If you have any questions or your condition changes please call and ask that the on-call resident for orthopaedics be paged. Getting Ready For the Surgery Health and Hygiene Please tell your surgeon before coming to the hospital if you have a fever, cold, or flu like symptoms. Take a complete bath or shower and a shampoo the evening before or the morning of surgery. Please remember, the QEII is scent free. Medications Ask your surgeon what medication you should and should not take the day of your surgery. The medication you are allowed to take should be taken with a sip of water only. 2

4 Smoking Please do not smoke after your evening meal the night before the surgery. Smoking can cause more secretions in your lungs and you may have problems with your breathing during and after the surgery. Please remember that the QEII is Smoke Free. Food and Drink Continue to eat healthy foods daily. Do not eat or drink any solid foods or liquids after midnight the night before your surgery (this includes gum and mints). If you receive a call that your surgery has been cancelled, eat well for the rest of the day and stop eating and drinking again at midnight. Do not drink alcohol from now until you have recovered from your surgery. Dentures You may wear your dentures to the hospital. Just before you go to the Operating Room (OR), they will be removed and placed in a denture cup until after surgery. Glasses/Contact Lenses Bring a case to store your glasses in when they are not being used. Your glasses will be taken 3

5 from you just before you go to the OR. They will be returned to you in the recovery area. Do not wear contact lenses. If this is not possible, please bring your lens container and cleaning solutions. Remember to tell your nurse you are wearing contact lenses. They must be removed before you go to the OR. Hearing Aids If you wear a hearing aid, bring it and a storage case with you. Depending upon how much hearing loss you have, you may be allowed to wear it to the OR. It will be returned to you in the recovery area after your surgery. Valuables Leave all valuables (jewellery, money, credit cards, and cheque books) at home. The hospital is not responsible for the loss of any item. All jewellery including toe rings must be removed at home. Any item used to pierce a body part such as the nose, belly button, tongue, or ear must be removed. Please bring the following to the hospital: A copy of your Personal Directive if you have one Your provincial health card (MSI card) The medication that you are taking (in their original containers) 4

6 Bring any walking aids such as crutches, canes, braces, that you have been told you will need. You will be asked to report to the hospital 3 hours before your surgery time. After surgery, you need a responsible adult to take you home and to stay with you to provide care as needed. You will not be able operate heavy machinery, sign legal documents, drive a car, drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after your surgery and while you are on any prescription pain medication. When You Arrive at the Same Day Surgery Unit A short nursing assessment will be done. Information about your surgery will be reviewed with you. You will be asked to put on a johnny shirt, dressing gown and slippers. Your clothes and other belongings will be placed in a locker. You will have a wait before going to the OR. Just before leaving for the OR, you will be asked to remove your dentures and eyeglasses. 5

7 Surgery You will require an anesthetic for your surgery. The type of anesthetic will be discussed with you by the anesthetist and your surgeon. You will have an intravenous (IV) started before your surgery. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will talk with you just before your anesthesia. The Operating Room An OR staff member will take you to the OR. On arrival, you will be greeted by a nurse who will ask you several questions. This is done to meet the standards of patient safety. The staff will be wearing masks, caps and special green clothing to ensure a clean environment. The OR is usually cool. You will be given a warm blanket. The staff will help you move to an OR bed. A belt similar to a car seat belt will be placed around you to ensure your safety. 6

8 Waiting Room A waiting area is provided for a relative/friend while you are in surgery/recovery. Surgical Liaison Nurse This nurse visits the waiting area several times during the day. Family and friends will be kept up to date about their loved one s condition. This nurse is not available on the weekend or holidays. After Surgery You will be taken to a special recovery area called the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Most patients recover from their anaesthetic in this area. The nurses are waiting for you and will frequently check your: blood pressure and pulse breathing intravenous dressings The patches placed on your chest for heart monitoring, may still be in place. 7

9 A nurse also assesses your level of discomfort/pain and give you medications as needed. You may be sleepy, your mouth may be dry, and there may be a small plastic airway in place to help your breathing. You may be given oxygen for a short time. The clothespin-like device attached to your finger may also be in place to measure your oxygen levels. There may be a small amount of drainage on your dressings. Do not be alarmed as this often happens. Your nurse will watch this and call the surgeon if needed. When you are more awake and comfortable, you will be taken to the post recovery area and prepared to go home. If you need to stay in the hospital for observation, you will be taken to the nursing unit and instructions about your care and follow-up. Discharge Information Instructions about your care at home will be reviewed with you and any questions you may have will be answered. Your nurse will discuss with you the routines of your surgeon. Some of these instructions will include what type of activity you will be able to do when you return home (housework, lifting, driving), appointments for follow-up visits, and prescriptions if needed. You will change back into your clothing. 8

10 After 7:00 pm weekdays or on weekends/holidays, you will be discharged from the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Instructions will be given to you in this area. Going Home When you are ready for discharge, the staff will call the person you have arranged to take you home. You will not be allowed to walk home or take public transit. We encourage you to have someone at home with you overnight to provide care as needed. If you have small children, arrange for someone to help you for a few days if necessary. Bring loose fitting clothing, such as a sweat suit and comfortable shoes to wear home. Anything that fits tightly may cause discomfort and may be too tight to fit over casts or dressings. We trust that this pamphlet has helped you. We would like to hear your comments and/or suggestions about this booklet and your hospital stay. A box for comments is available on the inpatient nursing units and in the followup Orthopaedic Clinic area. 9

11 There is also a Patient Representative Service if you have questions, concerns, comments about the care you have received. They can be reached at: Local phone number Toll free number healthcareexperience@cdha.nshealth.ca Please use the space below to write down any questions you would like answered. 10

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14 Looking for more health information? Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles and online health information. For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment. Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you! Capital Health, Nova Scotia Prepared by:orthopaedic Clinic, Capital Health Designed and Printed by: Capital Health Audio Visual and Printing Departments The information in this brochure is provided for information and education purposes only. The information is not intended to be and does not constitute healthcare or medical advice. If you have any questions, please ask your healthcare provider. WE Created Sept The information in this pamphlet is to be updated every 3 years.