• You will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). This is an open room with many patients awakening from anesthesia. Visitors are generally not allowed in the Inpatient PACU. Discuss any questions or concerns with your nurse.
• You will be observed closely until you recover from anesthesia. Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored and you will have an oxygen mask.
  The staff in the PACU will ask you a lot of questions to find out how alert you are and if you are having pain or nausea.
• The staff will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10 (with 0 being no pain and 10 being the most). Tell the staff about your pain so they can help relieve it.
• Ask questions about new medicines that are given to you. What is it? What is it for? If you have more questions about a medication, talk to your doctor or nurse before taking it.
• You will need instructions about what to do when you leave the hospital. This may include medications, therapy, how to care for your surgery site, and activities to avoid. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully, including when and who to call if you think you are having a problem. This helps reduce the risk of infection and, if you get an infection, allows for it to be taken care of early.
• You must have a responsible adult escort you home if you are having any type of sedation or anesthesia.
• To avoid reaching and bending, make sure you place medications and personal items within easy reach.
• Have a cell phone or cordless phone that you can keep in your pocket.
• Smoking, alcohol and drug use can cause you to have withdrawal or other substance-related problems after surgery. Please be honest with your care team. We are here to help you prepare and recover after your surgery.
• Your hospital care manager will help you arrange any services you need after your surgery.

Days or Weeks Before Surgery

At Home:

• Attend educational classes if available about your surgery.
• Complete Health Care Proxy which allows a person you designate to make medical decisions for you if you are unable.
• Arrange for someone to drive you home when you are discharged from the hospital. 
• Make arrangements for a responsible adult to assist in caring for you upon your return home.
• Arrange for a responsible person to care for children at home.
• Move obstacles such as throw rugs, extension cords, and footstools out of walkways. Make sure you can walk about easily with walker or crutches.
• Have appropriate seating for your type of surgery, no rolling chairs.
• Pets may need to be kept in a certain area so tripping is not a danger. Have enough food and supplies for your pet.
• Make sure handrails are secure in stairways.
• Have clean clothes for a few weeks ready or a plan for laundry.
• Arrange for mail to be picked up or place on hold for a few weeks.
• Stock up on food that is easy to cook like premade frozen meals, boxed meals, meals on wheels support, or grocery delivery.
• Have enough medications to last you a few weeks. 
• Try and refrain from smoking (or smoke less).

At the Hospital:

• Talk with your surgeon about why you need surgery, how it might help you and whether there are other options.
• Bring an up-to-date list of all medications and dosages, including over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and herbals, you take. Talk to your surgeon about why you take each medication and how it helps. Ask if there are any medicines (even over-the-counter) that you should not take before your surgery.
• Let the surgeon know if you are allergic to any medication and what happens when you take it. 
• Discuss with your surgeon if you are being treated for chronic pain. 
• Tell the surgeon if you have diabetes or high blood sugar.
• Tell your surgeon if you have heart problems or if you’re taking any heart medication.
• Depending on your surgery, you may be scheduled for a visit with an anesthesiologist. Tell your anesthesiologist about prior anesthesia experiences for you and for those within your family. Discuss your medical conditions and how they might affect your anesthetic options and your post operative pain management recommendations with your anesthesiologist.
• Inform your anesthesiologist if you have been previously told that you have a “difficult airway.”
• Talk to your surgeon about your anticipated discharge plan.
• Attend Center for Preoperative Assessment visit if scheduled. If you do not have an appointment, an RN will call you to do your assessment.

The Day or Night Before Surgery

• Do NOT shave near where you will have surgery. Shaving can irritate your skin, which may lead to infection. If you are a man who shaves your face every day, ask the surgeon if it is okay to do so.
• Keep warm. This means wearing warm clothes or wrapping up in blankets when you go to the hospital. In cold weather, it also means heating up the car before you get in. Keeping warm before surgery lowers your chances of getting an infection.
• Shower and wash your hair. Follow any instructions provided on use of an antimicrobial soap. Do not use hair spray or other hair styling products. Remove any nail polish on your fingers and toes and do not wear make-up. Your caregivers need to see your skin and nails to check your blood circulation.
• Follow all pre-surgery instructions carefully. You will probably be asked to stop eating the night before surgery. You may be instructed to stop taking regular medicines or you may be given a special medication or solution to drink before you go to the hospital.

Due to the complexity of the Operating Room schedule we are unable to provide your final arrival time until the day prior to surgery. After 2 pm on the day prior to surgery please call 617-636-TIME (8463) to confirm your expected arrival and surgical time.

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Cost estimate tool

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