Preparing For Surgery

Before Surgery

If you need to have outpatient surgery, your physician will schedule your procedure with the Firestone Surgery Center (FSC) and advise you of the date and time. Your physician will also perform a History & Physical prior to your surgery and provide that information to us in advance. A member of our staff may then call you prior to your day of surgery to review your health history and pre-admission testing if necessary.

‍‍Pre-Surgery Arrangements: On the last business day prior to your scheduled procedure, a member of our staff will call you after 1:30 P.M. to give you your arrival and procedure time and any other pre-procedure instructions that are required. For example, if you are having your procedure on Monday, you will receive a call on Friday afternoon. It is important that we have a contact number of where to reach you on this day, so if you have not already provided this information to your physician, please contact us at 330-892-5353, with the best number to reach you.

‍‍Nothing to Eat or Drink: Remember you must have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery unless you have received special instructions from our staff. Our staff will also instruct you regarding your daily medications.

‍‍Transportation: You must make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home from the Surgery Center after your procedure. If you don’t make such arrangements, your procedure will be rescheduled. It is also helpful to have this person remain at the Surgery Center to review your discharge instructions, but they do not need to stay with you the entire time you are with us.

‍‍What to Bring: Please dress for comfort. When you arrive, you will need to change into a patient gown for most procedures. Do not wear any jewelry or bring valuables. We do need you to bring your insurance card and some form of picture identification. Parents, your picture identification is all we require for your children.

‍‍Illness or Cancellation: Please call your surgeon’s office immediately if you develop a cold or other illness before the day of your surgery, so your situation may be evaluated. If you cannot keep your surgery appointment for any reason, please call the Firestone Surgery Center at 330-892-5353.

Questions: We are hereto meet your needs; please feel free to call us at 330-892-5353 if you have any questions.

Pediatric Surgery

The Firestone Surgery Center staff is dedicated to your child’s health and security. Our staff will help reassure and comfort your child and will provide information and support for families coping with their child's surgical situation. Here are some helpful suggestions to assist in a positive experience for your family:

If possible, it is helpful for both parents to be present on the day of surgery. We request that siblings remain at home, so the full focus of the parents’ attention is on your recovering child.
Bring your child’s comfort item with you, such as a stuffed animal or toy.
Arrange a visit to the Surgery Center prior to surgery for you and your child.

Parents should explain why surgery is needed, what the doctors and nurses will do and ensure that the child understands he/she has done nothing wrong or bad. We try to reduce discomfort as much as possible, but you should be honest when discussing fears about pain. Please contact your surgeon or our staff with specific questions so you can provide accurate information to your child.

Day of Surgery

Please arrive on time for your surgery and remember to bring your insurance card(s) and driver’s license with you.

Where to Go: When you arrive, please park in the parking lot at the front of the SRMC Surgery & Outpatient Pavilion. If you have difficulty walking, you may be dropped off at the front entrance, where wheelchairs are available. Take the elevator to The Firestone Surgery Center, located on the 2^nd floor.

Visitors: For the comfort and privacy of our patients, we ask that when you are in the patient’s room preparing for surgery, no more than two visitors remain with the patient. While the patient is in surgery or the recovery unit, visitors can relax in the Surgery Reception area.

After Surgery: Your provider will determine when you can be discharged, based on your condition and the procedure performed. When you are ready to leave, a nurse will review your discharge instructions with you and your loved ones.

Anesthesia

What is Anesthesia? Anesthesia is the loss of sensation and/or consciousness by the use of medications and which requires close monitoring. It provides comfort and maintains vital life functions during surgery and other medical procedures. Anesthesia is used to relax (sedate) you, block pain sensations (analgesia and anesthesia), induce sleepiness and forgetfulness (amnesia) or make you unconscious for your surgery. Your surgeon will determine the appropriate anesthetic option for your individual procedure, based on the procedure to be performed and your physical condition.

Preparing for Anesthesia: Your surgeon or a nurse will give you a list of instructions before surgery.

A nurse from the Surgery Center may also contact you to perform a brief interview and answer any questions you may have. Based on your surgeon’s recommendations, do not eat or drink for a certain length of time before the surgery. The amount of time depends on your medical condition and the type of anesthesia that will be used. If you take any medications regularly, ask your surgeon or anesthesia specialist whether you should take your medication on the day before or on the day of your surgery.

You will need to give written consent for your surgery and anesthesia, as well as to receive other necessary medications. Your surgeon will explain why your surgery is needed, what it will involve, its risks and expected outcome, and how long it will take you to recover. Your anesthesia specialist will have the same discussion with you about your anesthesia care.

Who Administers Anesthesia? Our staff of specially trained anesthesia physicians and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are all Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The physicians who provide anesthesia services to our pediatric patients have received specific training in the administration of pediatric anesthesia. A Firestone Surgery Center anesthesia specialist will stay with you for the entire procedure, constantly monitoring every important function of your body and individually modifying your anesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort.

Recovering from Anesthesia (PACU): Immediately after surgery, you will be taken to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), often called the recovery room, where nurses will observe and assist in your immediate recovery. A nurse will check your vital signs and ask about your comfort level. Some effects of anesthesia may persist for many hours after the procedure. You may have some numbness or reduced sensation in the part of your body that was anesthetized with local or regional anesthesia. Other common side effects of anesthesia are closely monitored and managed to decrease your discomfort. These side effects include:

Nausea and vomiting. In most cases, nausea after anesthesia can be treated and do not last long.
A mild drop in body temperature (hypothermia). You may feel cold and shiver when you are waking up.

Recovering from Anesthesia (At Home):

A responsible adult must drive you home and remain with you until the effects of your anesthesia have subsided, usually within 24 hours.
You will remain sleepy so plan to rest. In most cases you can resume activity in a few days.
Plan a light meal for after your surgery, such as soup and crackers. You will start with liquids at the Surgery Center.
You may receive a prescription for medication to relieve incisional discomfort. Take any medication with a light snack.
Follow the instructions provided by your surgeon. These will be reviewed with you and your caregiver by your nurse at the Surgery Center before you are discharged.
A member of our nursing staff will call you after your surgery to review your progress, but you may contact your surgeon’s office for any major concerns you may have.