Post-Op Resources

• If you wish, your surgeon will speak to your family after the surgery is complete.
• You’ll be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (also called the recovery room) where the staff will closely monitor you.
• If your surgery is in the hospital, you will be evaluated to see if you meet criteria to go home the same day as your surgery. If you don’t pass this criteria, you will be monitored overnight and re-evaluated the following morning.
• If your surgery is at the outpatient surgery center, once anesthesia has worn off and you are stable, you will be discharged.
• Before discharge, you’ll get instructions about what to do, what not to do, and how to care for yourself at home.
• You may need to ll prescriptions at a pharmacy before going home
• You might be given an incentive spirometer, a handheld medical device which you’ll use to keep your lungs working well after your surgery. Please use this as you’re instructed, to help prevent pneumonia.

Pain Management

A multi-modal approach to pain control is recommended following surgery. It is common to experience minimal pain on the day of surgery; however, pain typically increases over the next 2 to 3 days. To manage discomfort eectively, adhere to a consistent regimen that may include icing, over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if approved by your surgical team, and prescribed narcotic pain medications as needed.

Swelling

Elevation of the affected limb (e.g., leg or hand) above heart level is essential in minimizing swelling and discomfort while promoting circulation and healing. Cold therapy should be applied for 15–20 minutes, 3–4 times per day, particularly during the first few days after surgery. Always place a towel or cloth between the ice and your skin to avoid frostbite. Icing effectively reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Blood Clot Prevention

Your surgical team will provide a tailored plan for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, which typically includes a combination of medication and movement. Frequent mobility is key—aim to walk every two hours while awake. Additionally, perform ankle pump exercises while seated to encourage circulation.

Bandage and Wound Care

Your surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding the care and maintenance of your bandage and surgical site. It is important to follow these guidelines closely to ensure proper healing and prevent infection. If you have wound/bandage concerns, call your surgeon immediately.

Physical Therapy

Some patients will have in-home PT arranged for a week after surgery while others will have their post PT appointments arranged in advance. Make sure to pre-medicate for pain prior to these PT appointments.

Nausea and Vomiting

If you have a history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), inform your healthcare providers prior to surgery. Research indicates that maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance can help reduce the risk of PONV. You may try aromatherapy and acupuncture as well.

Constipation

Constipation is a common side efect of anesthesia and narcotic pain medications. To mitigate this, ensure adequate hydration, consume a ber-rich diet, and consider using over-the-counter supplements or laxatives as needed.

Insomnia

When will I start sleeping again? There’s no clear-cut answer for this. However, around the 6-12 week mark you should be experiencing less pain, be off pain medications that cause side effects, and you will likely get the green light from your care team to sleep in more comfortable positions.

Anesthesia is the use of medication to cause a lack of awareness during surgery or a procedure. Below is a brief explanation of the different types of anesthesia that may be discussed with you during your PACC visit.

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) – is type of anesthesia is frequently referred to as “twilight” anesthesia. Many have experience with this type of anesthesia when they have had a colonoscopy. It uses sedatives and pain medications given through an IV to create a relaxing and comfortable sensation during the procedure. e patient is sedated but not unconscious and is breathing on their own.

General Anesthesia – e primary goal of general anesthesia is to provide a complete lack of awareness and pain sensation during a surgery or procedure. General anesthesia is when you are made unconscious for a surgery or a procedure with the use of medications. After you are asleep, a breathing tube may be placed and connected to a ventilator to help you breathe during the surgery. Once the surgery is complete, the breathing tube is removed before you are fully awake. (When the breathing tube is used, you may have a sore throat after the procedure and over-the-counter treatment, similar to what you use for a cold, is all that is needed.) e anesthesia care team will closely monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation in your blood and your brain activity during the surgery. It is important to tell caregivers before your surgery if you or anyone in your family has ever had any problems with anesthesia.

Regional Anesthesia – Regional anesthesia is when the nerve supply to the part of the body where the surgery is being performed is blocked with a local anesthetic so no pain is felt. e most common example of this type of anesthesia is what we all have experienced at the dentist’s office when they numb your mouth before a procedure. The types of regional anesthesia that may be used for surgery include spinal, epidural or peripheral nerve blocks. Regional anesthesia can be used by itself with no other medication, but frequently it is combined with sedative drugs to make you relaxed or sleepy during surgery (MAC anesthesia). For pain relief after surgery, regional anesthesia is sometimes used in addition to a general anesthetic.

Types of Regional Anesthesia

Epidural/Spinal – Spinal and epidural anesthesia are usually used for surgeries involving the lower part of the body. Examples include total hip and knee replacements, open prostatectomy, lower extremity bypass surgeries and urological and gynecological surgeries. is type of anesthesia involves injecting a drug into the patient’s back to numb the lower half of the body. A spinal anesthetic is a single injection of medication while an epidural is a tiny tube placed in the back through which local anesthetics are given before, during and after the surgery. Depending on the type of surgery you are having, the epidural may also be used for pain relief following surgery.

Nerve Blocks – is type of anesthesia is used to block the feeling of an arm, hand, shoulder, leg or foot. While nerve blocks can be used as the only anesthetic, they are frequently combined with MAC or a general anesthetic (see previous page). In addition, they are helpful in providing pain relief aer surgery. Nerve blocks are usually done before you go back to the operating room, but sometimes are done in the operating room before the start of the surgery. A small ultrasound machine is used to visualize the nerve or group of nerves around which the local anesthesia will be placed. A one-time injection of local anesthetic is usually all that is needed for the majority of surgeries. The “blocked” area will remain numb for 12 to 18 hours depending on how quickly your body eliminates the local anesthetic. For larger surgeries where longer pain relief is needed, a tiny tube (a catheter) can be placed around a specific group of nerves and a continuous flow of local anesthesia can be given to provide days of pain relief. One of the side effects of the nerve block is that you will not be able to move that extremity until the block resolves. Remember, the same nerves that transmit the sensation of feeling also transmit the signal to make your muscles move. Finally, medications will be given to you through your IV prior to the block so that you will be comfortable and sleepy while the block is being performed.