What to Expect
When you arrive at the Medical Center of South Arkansas for surgery, a volunteer will greet you and can lead you to the nurse's desk. You'll be asked many questions repeatedly for safety awareness, and all hospital staff wear picture ID badges.
Day of Surgery Checklist:
- Make arrangements for someone to drive you home from the hospital the day of your surgery. You will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours after surgery.
- Avoid tobacco products of all kinds for 24 hours.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
- Bring all your medications.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight (no water, chewing gum, mints, lozenges, chewing tobacco).
- Shower as usual using an antibacterial soap (do not shave especially if the surgery site is in an area where you would normally shave).
- You may brush your teeth but avoid swallowing any water.
- If you use an adhesive with your dentures, please do not use today.
- No need for makeup and especially no mascara.
- If you wear contact lenses, bring a container and solution to keep them in while you are in surgery.
- Remove all body jewelry prior to your arrival.
- Take medications as directed during your pre-screening visit. If you have used an inhaler in the past bring it with you.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Pediatric Patients
The parent or legal guardian must remain in the patient's room at all times during the child's stay. Feel free to bring a sippy cup, toy or favorite blanket to help them feel more comfortable.
If your child needs to have an IV, it will be put in after he or she is asleep in the operating room, as children don't usually enjoy having them and try to take them out. However, if your child is old enough to understand, helping them prepare for the IV ahead of time can be helpful. Medical Center of South Arkansas will provide coloring books that will help explain what will happen during the hospital visit.
Visitors
For up-to-date visitor guidelines, please see our patients and visitors page.
Post-Op
After surgery, the surgeon will come out and speak with your family. You'll be in the recovery room for 30-60 minutes and then returned to your room once you've recovered from the anesthesia. Some surgeries will require a hospital stay. Unless it is otherwise specified, you'll be able to go home one hour after returning to your room, condition permitting. Someone should be available to stay at home with you for at least 24 hours after. You'll receive a follow-up appointment, post-op instructions and a copy of your medication list.
After surgery, the staff at Medical Center of South Arkansas start your diet with clear liquids to drink. Once home, you can move to any liquids. If not nauseated, you should be able to tolerate real food by that evening, but if you do get sick, do not drink anything for 30 minutes and then start the process over again. If the nausea continues, call your doctor for further instructions. Some surgeries may require a more strict diet, and if that is the case, you'll have gotten this information ahead of time from the doctor.
No driving for 24 hours post-surgery. Anesthesia can stay in your system for at least that long.
Returning to Work
This timeline will be set by your doctor. Most minor procedures allow you to go back to work in a couple of days. More extensive surgery could require you to be off work a week or more.
For this information in a printable document, click here.
Helpful resources:
For more information, please call: (870) 864-3533
To speak to a One Day Surgery nurse, please call: (870) 864-3336