Surgery Day and After Upon arriving at the hospital or medical facility, the patient is greeted and escorted to a private area to change into a gown. The nursing staff then reviews the patient s medical information verifying name, surgical procedure, allergies, and other pertinent information. The anesthesiologist also speaks with the patient during this time and reviews their medical chart. Most patients do not remember being wheeled into the operating room. During surgery the anesthesiologist monitors the patient s heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and level of sedation.
Surgery is a team effort with the surgeon taking the lead.
Surgical assistants and nurses support the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Following surgery, the patient is taken to a recovery area where their vital signs are monitored. Post-operative pain should be expected although this is relative. Another common myth is patients who undergo spinal surgery are confined to a long recuperative period in bed. Depending on the type of spinal surgery, the patient may be encouraged to get out of bed the day after surgery.