After Your Surgery
After your surgery is complete, you will slowly become more alert as your anaesthetic starts to wear off. You will be lifted into your hospital bed and then transported to the Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). You will feel groggy and sleepy; some patients are so sleepy that they don't really remember the PACU. The PACU nurses will check your pulse and other vital signs. You will have a small mask on that will be blowing a cool oxygen mist until you are completely alert. If you have pain, the PACU nurses will give you pain relieving medication through your IV line.
Almost all of the surgery that Dr. Boyle performs is either day stay (you go home on the same day as surgery) or requires one night in hospital. If your surgery is day stay, you will move from the PACU to a special discharge unit to get changed into your own clothes and rest before you are discharged. If your surgery involves an overnight stay, you will be transported from the PACU to your hospital room.
Before you are discharged from hospital, the nursing staff will make sure that you are safe to go home, can use your crutches or sling, and will be able to cope. If you stay overnight, you may have your dressing changed before you leave. Before you leave hospital, you will be given material to take home including:
A prescription for pain relief and any other required medications
A set of instructions about managing the first 2 weeks after surgery including caring for your wound and rehabilitation exercises
Details about your first post-operative clinic appointment
A photographic record of your surgery, if it was an arthroscopic procedure
You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery. Your first follow up appointment will usually be 10-14 days after your surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Almost all of Dr Boyle's surgery is either day stay, where you go home the same day, or requires one night in hospital. Your specific pre-operative information will confirm which applies to your procedure.
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Some pain is expected. In the Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), nurses can give pain-relieving medication through your IV line if needed, and you'll be given a prescription for pain relief to take home before you're discharged.
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You'll be given a prescription for pain relief and any other required medications, instructions for managing the first two weeks after surgery including wound care and rehabilitation exercises, details of your first post-operative appointment, and, if you had an arthroscopic procedure, a photographic record of the surgery.
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Yes. You'll need someone to drive you home from hospital and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.
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A wound check and suture removal is usually arranged with your GP or Dr Boyle's practice nurse around 10 to 14 days after surgery. Your first follow-up appointment with Dr Boyle himself is typically around 6 weeks after surgery.
