1. What is Day Surgery?
Day Surgery is a way of allowing patients to undergo a surgical procedure with the least amount of time spent away from home, family and friends. Generally you will be admitted and discharged on the same day.
This has become possible due to combined advances in Surgical Techniques and also Anaesthetic Management allowing patients to recover quickly with minimal pain and other unpleasant side effects that were common in the past.
Many operations in the following Surgical Specialities can be performed as Day Procedures:
- Orthopaedics
- Gynaecology
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Eye operations
- General Surgery
Many of these employ specialty techniques referred to as Minimally Invasive or Key Hole Surgery.
2. Where is it performed?
Designated Day Surgery Units (DSU’s) are of two types:
- Those associated with and usually part of a Major Hospital Complex, where you will be admitted to a purpose built area, designated to allow a staged recovery process leading to discharge back to your home, and
- Free standing DSU’s which are not physically part of a Hospital but contain the same admission areas, operating theatres and recovery areas as found in a major hospital.
Both types of Units are staffed by highly qualified and specifically trained nursing staff as well as, of course, the medical specialists taking care of you.
3. Who decides whether your planned operation is suitable as a Day Patient?
Generally your Surgeon will advise you. Many factors need to be considered, not just the operation type. For example:
- your general health – some more serious medical problems may be best dealt with as an inpatient
- your home situation – who is home with you and the physical aspect of your home
- past experiences with surgery and anaesthetics – such as severe nausea
These types of issues will be discussed with you prior to surgery and clearly you should raise any concerns or questions at this opportunity.
4. What type of Anaesthetic will I get for the surgery?
As with almost all operations requiring an anaesthetic, a specialist Anaesthetist will see your prior to the operation. Due to the nature of Day Surgery, this will often be just before the operation in the DSU.
The Anaesthetist will assess your general health and the specific history relating to any previous anaesthetics. It is during that consultation that you will find out what type of Aneasthesia is suitable for your planned operation. Generally this will fall into one of the following categories:
- General Anaesthetic
- Epidural / Spinal Anaesthetic
- Local Anaesthetic Block, and
- Sedation or Twilight Sleep
You should always take the opportunity to discuss any aspects of the Anaesthetic management with your Anaesthetist at this time.
5. What is required from you?
You will usually be contacted by the DSU at least the day before your booked surgery date. Many details will have been covered but below is a list of some information that will make the process more efficient:
- Bring a list of medications and allergies – your General Practitioner can sometimes provide this.
- Take all your test results, X-ray’s and Scan’s along with you.
- Ensure you understand and follow the fasting instructions provided to your by your surgeon and the hospital.
- Some regular medication such as heart, blood pressure, and asthma conditions should be taken on the day of surgery as per instructions. If you are not sure, call the Day Surgery Unit staff or ask at the preoperative call from them.
- Allow yourself enough time to get to the facility so that you are relaxed as possible when you get there – this is a stressful time for most patients.
If you are uncertain about any aspect of DAY SURGERY it is best to ask either your surgeon, the Day Unit you are going to, or the Anaesthetist who is booked to care for you – most problems have solutions and we are all here to solve them.
