About Your Surgery

Preparing for Surgery

  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery. All patients should check with a nurse at Lafayette Surgicare for specific instructions.
  • When you arrive, please check in with the receptionist. You will be asked for some basic billing information and your insurance card and driver’s license. Please have this information available.
  • A nurse will greet you, check your temperature, heart rate, review your record, and answer any questions you may have.
  • If there is an anesthesiologist assisting in your procedure, they will talk to you about your anesthesia experience and answer any questions you may have.
  • Wear glasses instead of contacts.
  • Do NOT bring any valuables with you to Lafayette Surgicare.
  • Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
  • Your family or “responsible” adult should wait at Lafayette Surgicare while you have surgery.
  • If you are on medication, please bring your prescription with you along with the dosages.
  • Please bring with you any forms from your doctor.
  • Please read the following instructions and all information provided to you by your surgeon prior to your procedure.
  • Pre-operative blood tests, X-rays, urine tests or other studies may be scheduled by your surgeon. Please have these done several days before the day of surgery so that the results are received in a timely manner.
  • A nurse from Lafayette Surgicare will phone you for a pre-operative review. This will assist us in reviewing your medical history, medications and allergies. If you are on any medications, please be sure to contact the nurses at Lafayette Surgicare for specific instructions about taking them on the day of surgery.
  • Call your doctor if your physical condition changes, such as having cold symptoms or an infection. Changes could affect our ability to administer anesthesia and perform the procedure.
  • For all types of anesthesia other than local you MUST have a “responsible” adult drive you home. You will also need a caregiver who is prepared to stay with you overnight and care for you after your surgery. YOUR SURGERY WILL BE CANCELLED IF THIS IS NOT STRICTLY FOLLOWED. THIS IS FOR YOUR SAFETY.

During the Surgery

You may have one of the following types of anesthesia during your day surgery:

  • GENERAL ANESTHESIA — You will be completely asleep during the procedure.
  • SPINAL/EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA — The lower part of your body will be numbed.
  • REGIONAL ANESTHESIA — A specific region of your body will be numbed.
  • LOCAL ANESTHESIA — The area directly around the site will be numbed.
  • SEDATION — “Relaxing” medications are used.

The type of anesthesia that you will have will be determined by your surgeon, anesthesiologist and yourself.

After the Surgery

  • A nurse will review your discharge instructions with you and your “responsible” person. Our staff will also review general post surgical instructions provided by Lafayette Surgicare, as well as any instructional forms from your surgeon.
  • It is helpful to have your caregiver at Lafayette Surgicare so they can learn how to care for you at home.
  • A Patient Satisfaction Survey will be given to each patient to help us ensure that we are providing the highest quality of care. We welcome your ideas, comments and suggestions as we constantly strive to improve our services. Please complete and return the survey. Your opinion is important to us.
  • Before you leave Lafayette Surgicare, you will be awake enough to go home, but plan to continue resting. You are going home to finish recovery. A nurse will call you at home to see how you are feeling and to answer any questions you may have.
  • Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment with you.
  • REMEMBER, you are the most important person on your health care team.