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The day of your planned surgery

This page shares some general information to help give you an idea of what to expect on the day of your planned surgery. Across Aotearoa, each hospital will do things a little bit differently.

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    Healthcare worker offering a patient a glass of water while sitting in a chair

    Anaesthesia is very safe. It allows a patient to be comfortable during their surgery. Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are highly trained to deliver anaesthesia and help look after you before, during, and after your surgery.

    This information is meant as a general guide only. It does not replace individual medical advice given by your healthcare providers. You should always ask your healthcare team If there is anything you’re unsure about.

    Your hospital may ask you to complete some forms before your day of surgery. They might also be in touch if they would like you to attend a pre-op clinic or do some pre-op tests. This is all part of helping your healthcare team ensure they are providing the best care possible for you.

    On the day

    You should arrive at the hospital at the time given to you, make sure you bring the things you’ll need for your stay.

    The team at the hospital will let you know if they want you to make any changes to your medications beforehand, otherwise, it’s ok to have your normal medications with a small sip of water.

    It’s important that you stop eating 6 hours before surgery. You can still drink clear fluids until much closer to the time – your hospital will give you advice on when you need to stop. These rules are to protect your lungs from any inhaled food or drink if your anaesthetist needs to give you a general anaesthetic. Even if you aren’t planning on having a general anaesthetic, it is important to follow these instructions in case the plan changes on the day.

    Your theatre team

    Once you are at the hospital there will be lots of people for you to meet.

    A nurse in scrubs holding a folded gown and socks

    A nurse will

    • Welcome you and help you get changed and ready for theatre. You might have some light stockings to put on, that help protect you from getting a clot in your legs.
    • They will perform some checks, including taking your blood pressure and if needed, you may have some final blood tests or extra treatments that might be required for your surgery.

    An anaesthetist will

    • Talk to you about what will happen during your surgery.
    • Describe the medicines they will use and how these will make you feel.
    • Talk to you about the possible risks and answer any questions you might have.
    • You might be asked to sign a consent form if you haven’t done this already

    A surgeon will

    • Also talk to you about your operation
    • Answer your questions
    • Ask you to sign a consent form.

    You will also be asked for your permission for any blood transfusions in case you have lots of blood loss and asked whether you want any parts removed during your surgery to be returned to you. Your healthcare team may need to rule out an unknown pregnancy and may ask you to perform a pregnancy test, this is to make the safest plan for your surgery and anaesthetic. You can read more about pregnancy and anaesthesia on the Anaesthesia FAQs page here.

    Before your surgery

    Most of the time your surgery will happen within 2-4 hours of your arrival, but sometimes there can be a longer wait, and it is a good idea to bring something to do, for example, a book to read or a card game to play.

    When it’s your turn to go into the operating theatre, a nurse will make sure you have had all the right pre-surgery checks and welcome you into theatre.

    When you get into theatre it might seem like there are lots of people. Everyone works as a team and has an important part to play in your care. Sometimes there might also be trainee doctors, nurses, and technicians working alongside your theatre team and learning on the job.

    There will be some more safety checks. Your anaesthetist will confirm your details again, and you’ll meet the anaesthetic assistant who works alongside your anaesthetist.

    You will have an IV line placed, usually in your arm or hand. The anaesthetic assistant will put some monitoring on – usually an oxygen monitor on your finger and blood pressure cuff around your arm.

    Your anaesthetist will then get ready to start your anaesthetic. They will talk to you on the day about how this will happen. You might have a regional anaesthetic, sedation, or a general anaesthetic. You can find out more about the different kinds of anaesthetics on our anaesthesia and anaesthetics page here.

    If you’re having a general anaesthetic, then you will breathe oxygen through a mask, before the anaesthetic begins.

    When your surgery is underway the team will make sure you are safe and comfortable. Your anaesthetist stays by your side until your surgery is finished. Your theatre team will work together to maintain your privacy, too.

    After your surgery

    An anaesthetist holding a clipboard and talking to a patient in a hospital bedAfter your surgery is over, you will go to the recovery ward, which is close to the operating theatres. It can be a strange feeling to wake up with new people around you and in a place you might not have been before. In the recovery ward you’ll be looked after by a nurse, who will make sure you are safe after your anaesthetic, that your pain levels are under control, and that everything else is going well too.

    Once your recovery nurse is happy that it’s safe, you will be moved to a normal ward, or to the day stay ward if you are going home the same day of surgery.

    If you are going home the same day, you will need to have an adult drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours.

    If you have had major surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for a night or more. You might be sharing a hospital room with other patients. Once your doctors and nurses are happy that it’s safe for you to go home, you will be discharged with a summary of your hospital care. You will be given a prescription for pain relief.

    Make sure you talk about any worries you have with the doctors or nurses before you go home. It is always a good idea to write down advice. It might help to take a notebook to the hospital with you.

    You can also find answers to many frequently asked questions about anaesthesia, preparing for your surgery or procedure, and during and after your surgery or procedure on the Anaesthesia FAQs page here or below.

    This information is meant as a general guide only. It does not replace individual medical advice given by your healthcare providers. You should always ask your healthcare team If there is anything you’re unsure about. The NZSA does it utmost to keep this information up to date and content is subject to change. If you have any feedback or suggestions for future topics please get in touch.