You may be a fan of TV emergency room shows and hospital dramas, but these shows probably just make you more nervous about what happens in the operating room. Want to stress less about surgery? Find out what to expect before you get to the hospital by reading this article.

If you're facing surgery, you definitely aren't alone. Millions of teens are wheeled into operating rooms (ORs) each year.

Depending on your medical problem, you may have inpatient surgery or outpatient surgery (also called ambulatory surgery). Inpatient surgery usually requires that you stay in the hospital for a day or more so the doctors and nurses can monitor your recovery carefully. If you have outpatient surgery, you may not even have to go to hospital - this type of surgery is often performed in a doctor's office or clinic and you can go home afterward.

What to Expect
When you arrive at the hospital, a nurse or other hospital employee will begin the admissions process by asking questions about your medical history, including allergies and any symptoms or pain you may be having. Nurses may also take your vital signs like your heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure.

During the admissions process, you'll be given an identification bracelet - a paper tape to wear around your wrist. You'll also be asked about the time you last ate or drank anything. This question may seem strange, but it's actually very important to your safety. Having food or liquids in your system can interfere with some medical procedures and may make you feel sick or even lead to harmful complications.

You may need to have other tests, like X-rays and blood tests, before your surgery begins.

Before your operation takes place, you and your family will have a chance to meet with the anesthesiologist - the doctor who specializes in giving anesthetics, the medications that will help you fall asleep or numb an area of your body so you don't feel the surgery. The anesthesiologist will have your medical information so he or she can give you the amount of anesthetic you need for your age, height, and weight.

There are several types of anesthesia. General anesthesia is when you are completely unconscious during the operation. If you're having general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist will be present during the entire operation to monitor your anesthetic and ensure you constantly receive the right dose. If surgery is done under local anesthesia, you'll be given an anesthetic that numbs only the area of your body to be operated on, but you will be awake. (If you're having outpatient surgery in a clinic or doctor's office, this is probably the type of anesthetic you'll get.)

Printer-friendly version Email this article to a friend Send email to us

Jump to another section of this article What's It Like to Have Surgery? What to Expect continued and Making Surgery Less Stressful Reviewer name and date on last page