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Surgery

Surgery wait times for elective surgeries

For information about wait times for elective surgeries in B.C., visit the Government’s Surgery Wait Times website.

Surgical care contact info – by hospital

Please call the hospital where your surgery will take place or booking office (expand the “Hospital contact information” accordion below for phone numbers) if:

You have questions while you wait for surgery
Your contact information has changed (e.g. address, phone number)
There has been a change in your availability (e.g. due to work, school, or vacation)

Please note: If there’s a change in your health or you no longer wish to have surgery, please contact your surgeon as soon as possible.

Hospital contact information

Cariboo Memorial Hospital: 250-392-4411 ext 5286
Creston Valley Hospital: 250-428-2286 ext 3835
East Kootenay Regional Hospital: 1-833-717-6225 (toll free)
Elk Valley Hospital: 250-423-4453 ext 339
Golden and District Hospital: 250-344-5271 ext 0
Kelowna General Hospital: 250-862-4481
Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital: 250-368-3311; 1-866-368-3314 (toll free)
Kootenay Lake Hospital: 250-354-2352
Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre: 250-256-1306
Penticton Regional Hospital: 250-770-5539; 1-855-770-5539 (toll free)
Pleasant Valley Health Centre: 1-250-546-4726
Queen Victoria Hospital: 1-250-814-2288
Royal Inland Hospital: 250-314-2303; 1-833-314-2303 (toll free)
Shuswap Lake General Hospital: 250-833-3642
Summerland Health Centre: 250-404-8016; 1-844-977-8016 (toll free)
Vernon Jubilee Hospital: 250-541-3509;1-855-541-3509 (toll free)

Preparing for your visit

When going in for your surgery, be sure to plan ahead for your stay. Learn about:

Day of surgery

Be sure to arrive at your check-in time even if it’s a few hours before your scheduled surgery. This time may be required by the hospital staff to prepare you for the operating room.

Steps leading up to surgery

You’ll check in with our hospital team
Staff will confirm your identity and provide you with a hospital wrist band
Before you enter the operating room, you’ll be asked to change, use the washroom and remove hearing aids, glasses and dentures
Nurses may start an intravenous line to give you fluids and any necessary medications
Your surgeon and/or anesthesiologist may speak with you before your surgery
You will either walk or be helped into the operating room where the surgical team will again confirm your identity and your surgical procedure
The surgical team will perform several safety checks throughout the surgery to ensure your well-being

Anesthesia during surgery

The anesthetic used will depend on the type of surgery. Most surgeries will involve either a local, spinal or general anesthetic.

Local anesthetic numbs a small, isolated region of your body to prevent pain during the procedure. You will not lose consciousness with a local anesthetic.
Spinal anesthetic will numb your body from the chest down and stops you from feeling pain during your procedure. Along with the spinal anesthetic, your anesthesiologist may give you other medication to make you relaxed and sleepy. After your surgery, you may not be able to move your legs for several hours.
General anesthetic is a combination of medications that will keep you unconscious during your surgery

Anaesthetic drugs may stay in the body for up to 24 hours and you will be impaired during this period. Do not:

Go to work or do business
Make significant decisions of any kind
Drive a car or work with machinery
Travel alone by public transportation
Do any strenuous activities
Drink alcohol
Take tranquilizers, sedatives, sleeping pills, or other medications not permitted by your surgeon and/or physician
Care for another person such as a baby, small child, or elderly person who needs help

Entering recovery room

You will be moved from the operating room to the recovery room after your surgery. You may have an oxygen mask and various devices monitoring your vital signs while you’re in recovery; a nurse will also be close by to monitor your vitals as the anesthetic wears off. You may also be given pain medications while in recovery. You can expect to spend a few hours in the recovery room, though the stay time does vary.

Preparing for recovery at home

Your home is usually the best place to recover as people tend to eat, sleep and heal better at home. During your hospital stay, the role of the health-care team is to get you moving and resuming your daily activities safely and as soon as possible so you can return home to recover in a familiar environment. Your health-care team will provide discharge instructions and go over everything you need to know when you leave the hospital.

If you need additional services such as rehabilitation or home care, this will be arranged before you go home. You may be given a prescription that your support person can fill at a pharmacy.

Your primary care provider will receive reports from the surgeon so they can provide appropriate ongoing care.

Questions to ask before you leave the hospital

What signs or symptoms might I expect during recovery?
When and how do I remove or change my dressing?
What should I do if I’m concerned?
When can I return to my regular activities?

Please ask any other questions you have, share your concerns, or explain any needs.

Leaving the hospital

Before your surgery date, make sure you plan your ride home in advance.
On your way home you may wish to fill prescriptions and pick up any equipment that you will require at your home, such as a walker or wheelchair.

Preparing your home

Consider the following points before heading home after a surgery:

Will you be able to get around your home after surgery? Are you able to get to the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom without using stairs?
If you live alone, do you have someone spending some time with you at your home? Depending on the operation you may be told to have someone stay with you for the night or several days after your surgery.
Do you have all the supports you will need in place? Do you need an aid to help you with shopping, driving or personal care?

If you’re unsure how to answer any of these questions, talk with your health-care team to see what resources are available to you.

Recovering at home

Resting

Surgery can take a lot out of you and your body will need time to recover. You’ll want to get a good amount of sleep every night and may need to take small breaks to rest or nap throughout the day. However, it’s important to note that resting all day is likely not the best way to help your body recover. Listen closely to your surgeon and/or nursing staff when they explain what level of activity is best for you while recovering at home.

Taking medication

It’s important that you take your medication as instructed. Please ensure you take the pain medication you’ve been prescribed, even if you’re not in pain. Waiting for the pain to return before you take your medication can lead to unnecessary pain and stress.

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