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General Surgery
South Lincoln Medical Center Surgery Department offers superior surgical care close to home. Our surgery department includes the operating room, anesthesia, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), outpatient surgery and sterile processing. Our hometown staff provides a caring and comfortable environment for our surgical patients.
Specialties provided include Anesthesia, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Dental and Podiatry.
WHAT TO EXPECT: PRIOR TO YOUR PROCEDURE
The surgery staff works diligently to ensure you are well informed of the surgery process and all questions are addressed to help ensure a seamless comforting process. The surgery staff will either meet you in the clinic on the day your procedure is scheduled to obtain a brief history from you or we will contact you by phone to obtain your history. In addition a surgery staff member will contact you 1-2 days prior to your procedure to provide you with an arrival time and instructions for the day of your procedure.
Surgery Preparation
You may not eat or drink anything after midnight the night prior to your procedure. This includes chewing gum, hard candy, tobacco, vaping and water. This is required for your safety and if not followed could result in your procedure being delayed or even canceled.
A small sip of water may be necessary to take medications or brush your teeth but try avoiding this, if possible.
Leave all valuables at home. This includes necklaces, wedding rings, earrings, wallets, etc.
Do not wear any perfume, oil-based lotions or hairspray on the day of the surgery.
If you wear contacts please bring something to store them in or wear your glasses for the day of the procedure. Contacts will need to be removed prior to the surgery.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes, after your procedure you might be sore.
If surgery is to be performed on a hand or foot please remove all nail polish prior to arrival to the surgery department.
Ensure you have a responsible adult available to drive you home after your procedure.
DIRECTIONS TO THE SURGERY DEPARTMENT
Enter the hospital through the entrance behind the emergency room and walk straight, to the Acute Medical Floor. The nurses there will direct you to your room or the surgical department depending on where you are assigned.
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WHAT TO EXPECT: AFTER YOUR ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE:
After your exam, you will be in the recovery room for 30 minutes to an hour until you are awake and your vital signs are stable. During your procedure, air was put into your intestinal tract. This enables your doctor to see clearly and make a diagnosis and/or treat your problem. A possible side effect of this may be discomfort due to a distended or bloated abdomen. This will subside after a few hours but could take up to two days to resolve.
Restrictions on activity: Sleepiness, nausea or dizziness may be a side effect of the medication you were given during your procedure; therefore, you should not drive or drink alcohol until the next day. Do not make any important or legal decisions until the next day. The patient should be in the care of a responsible adult for 24 hours after the procedure.
Diet: Start with a light meal and advance as tolerated unless instructed differently at the time of discharge from the surgery department.
Symptoms to watch for and report to your physician:
Increased abdominal pain
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness or weakness
Fever with a temp greater than 101
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating
If you have any concerns after hours, please feel free to contact the hospital nurses station at (307) 877-4401.
WHAT TO EXPECT: AFTER YOUR SURGICAL PROCEDURE:
After your surgery, you will be in the recovery room for 30 minutes to an hour until you are awake and your vital signs are stable. You will be transferred to the Acute Medical Floor for additional recovery time and discharged. Instructions will be provided to you and your responsible adult prior to discharge, explaining what to expect based on the type of surgery that was performed and what the follow-up process will entail.
Restrictions on activity: Sleepiness, nausea or dizziness may be a side effect of the medication you were given during your procedure; therefore, you should not drive or drink alcohol until the next day. Do not make any important or legal decisions until the next day. The patient should be in the care of a responsible adult that will check on them frequently for 24 hours after the procedure.
Diet: Start with a light meal and advance as tolerated unless instructed differently at the time of discharge from the surgery department.
Symptoms to watch for and report to your physician:
Increased abdominal pain
Nausea or vomiting
Fever with a temp greater than 101
Shortness of breath
Dizziness or weakness
Excessive sweating
If you have any concerns after hours, please feel free to contact the hospital nurses station at (307) 877-4401.
