Having Surgery

You're having surgery. You and your doctor have decided it's time. So what's the next step? Ask questions! Don't go into surgery without finding out as many of the details as you can.

More than 50 million surgeries are performed here in the United States annually, and there are always things that can go wrong. From surgical items being left inside patients - to infection of the surgical site - to the wrong operation being performed on the wrong patient.

I'm not saying this will happen to you, but what I am saying is that if you're having surgery performed, you should ask your doctor and anesthesiologist questions that will give you a good idea of what to expect.

It also gives you an idea if your doctor or surgeon and anesthesiologist is qualified or capable of performing this
surgery.

Ask questions. Kick the tires so to speak! Take part in medical decisions that concern you. Don't sit back and let the doctors make decisions that may affect your life.

Some of the questions you should ask are listed below. You can always add questions that apply to your specific surgery. This is just a starting point.

Is This Surgery Necessary?

If it's a matter of life or death, then yes, it probably is, but for other types of surgery you want to know if it's really
necessary, or is it something that can be taken care of by medication or therapy.

How Much Does The Doctor Charge

Always find out before hand how much your surgery is going to cost, and how much your insurance or medicare or medicaid will pay. You want to know how much out-of-pocket expense you will need for the doctors, anesthesiologist and hospital.

If possible, this is something you should get directly from your doctor, in writing.

Is Your Doctor Trained For This Procedure?

Of course you want to know if your doctor has the experience to perform this surgery. Not the out-dated, 30 year old procedure that most doctors haven't used in 10 years. But can he or she perform the latest procedure.

Are they trained to perform this procedure? You want to know how many of these surgeries they have performed.
And at this time, you also want to get a second opinion.

What Is The Percentage Of Nosocomial Infections At The Hospital?

This is something the doctor should be able to tell you, if he or she has done surgery at this particular hospital.

Nosocomial infections are those that come from a breakdown in the hospital's sanitation routine. It does happen, and statistics state an average of 7 to 10 percent of the adult patients contract infections and at least 30 percent for patients that are critically ill.

The hospital may be hesitant about releasing this information, so ask your doctor.

How Often Is This Surgical Procedure Performed At This Hospital

If your doctor or other doctors use this hospital frequently, then more than likely, this procedure is performed on a regular basis, and it's something the hospital is familiar with.

But ask anyway, just to make sure.

What Training Does The Surgical Staff Have?

Find out if your doctor, any other doctor that is going to assist, the anesthesiologist and nurse is board certified, not board eligible, but certified. Especially if the procedure is taking place outside of the hospital. For example, clinics, surgery centers, and doctor's office.

What Type Of Anesthesia Are They Using?

When having surgery, there are three types of anesthesia that can be used. There is a general anesthesia, a local anesthesia, and a regional anesthesia.

General is for your entire body, local is for a small portion of your body, and regional is for a larger portion of your body.

The type they use will depend on the surgery you're having, but this is still something you want to know.

How Will The Anesthesia Affect You?

You want to know how the anesthesia will affect you during surgery, and after surgery. This is something you really want to know! Anesthesia can have different affects on your body after surgery.

Some people become nauseous, some are cold, some will cry and some will wake up in recovery as if nothing has happened.

Are They Prepared For Emergencies?

This question should be asked if you're having surgery in a non-hospital setting.

You want to know if they have the proper equipment, personnel, ambulance or whatever is needed to handle emergencies if they should arrive.

Find out if they work closely with the local hospital so that if an emergency does happen, the transition from the non-hospital setting to the hospital will be done smoothly.

If you're having surgery, and you can think of any more questions to ask, please add them to your list. The more questions you ask... the more comfortable you'll be with the procedure, the doctor, the hospital and the medical staff.

Don't take your health lightly. Participate in the decisions and ask your questions. This is your body and your life, not there's. You are the one who will have to live with the consequences.

Statistics show that the people who ask questions and Participate in their health care become more than a room number in a hospital. They become an individual that receives higher than average treatment while in the hospital.