What should I expect on the day of my surgical procedure?
In general, this is what happens on the day of your surgery:
•You will change into a hospital gown and a preoperative nurse may perform a brief exam.
•You will meet with the surgical team. An anesthesiologist will discuss your medical history and explain the anesthesia you will have.
•Sometimes repeat lab work is necessary to ensure your safety.
•You will also meet the OR nurse, the neuromonitoring technician, and your surgeon(s) to briefly discuss their role and the surgery specifically.
•You will sign surgical consent
•You will get a sedative to help you relax before the team takes you to the operating room (OR).
•Your team will start anesthesia in the OR. With general anesthesia, you won’t remember anything else until you wake up in the recovery room.
It’s common to stay in the hospital after back or spine surgery. However, some back or spine surgeries are outpatient procedures and you will go home the same day. In either case, your team will give you detailed instructions about activity levels, medications, and follow-up appointments before you leave. Make sure you receive and understand the post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon and schedule your two-week follow-up before you leave the hospital. #SASpine
