Surgery
To make an appointment
Patients must be referred by a physician.
Here is a general outline of the process if you are scheduled for elective surgery in one of our hospitals, with or without hospitalization.
Note:
- The information below does not replace the professional advice you have received.
- Your surgery may be canceled or moved due to emergency surgery or a lack of beds.
Assessment at the preoperative clinic
Preoperative assessment is the first step in preparing for surgery. Depending on the type of surgery you are having and your state of health, your assessment may be done over the phone or in person at the clinic.
Please plan for at least one hour by phone or two to four hours if you have to come to the clinic. During your visit, you may meet an anesthesiologist or other health professionals.
Important: Have all your medications with you for the phone call or at your visit to the clinic. This also includes vitamins and natural products.
Here’s what will be done:
- a review of the questionnaire you filled out at the surgeon's office
- a review of your allergies
- a review of your medications
- a review of your previous illnesses
- an explanation of the instructions you must follow, based on your surgery
- tests based on your health condition (bloodwork, electrocardiogram, x-rays, etc.).
Ask questions if you have any concerns.
Note: Carefully follow all the instructions you receive following your pre-surgery assessment. Otherwise, your surgery may be canceled.
For your safety and to ensure that you receive care tailored your condition, it is very important to notify the preoperative clinic nurse if:
- your medication changes between your pre-surgery assessment and the day of your surgery;
- you go to Emergency or see a doctor between your pre-surgery assessment and the day of your surgery.
Beauséjour Zone – Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC: 506-869-2867
Northwest Zone – Edmundston: 506-739-2397
Restigouche Zone: 506-789-5254
Acadie-Bathurst Zone: 506-544-2337
If you have to cancel your surgery
Call the hospital where you were scheduled for surgery during office hours:
Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC: 506-869-4104
Edmundston Regional Hospital: 506-739-2397
Campbellton Regional Hospital: 506-789-5105
Chaleur Regional Hospital: 506-544-2337
- Set up your home so that everything is easy for you. For example, clear traffic areas and place larger side tables near your bed and recliner. You will be able to place the things you need there.
- Move your bedroom to the ground floor if possible, to minimize the use of stairs.
- Prepare meals ahead of time and freeze them. They'll be ready for when you get back.
- Do your shopping at the grocery store and pharmacy ahead of time.
- Make sure you have a thermometer at home to check for fever after your surgery.
- Make an appointment to have your false eyelashes or gel nails removed.
- Diabetic patients: Your blood sugar sensor (e.g., FreeStyle) must be removed on the day of surgery.
- Find out more about community assistance services (cleaning, meals-on-wheels, etc.) if you need them by calling the centralized resource information and referral service at 211 or visiting their website at http://www.nb.211.ca.
To prevent complications
- Stop using natural products two weeks before your surgery.
- Reduce your consumption of alcohol, cannabis, vaping products and tobacco in the week before your operation.
- Do not shave the area to be operated on for two days before your surgery.
Prepare yourself by following all the instructions given to you by the preoperative clinic nurse.
The evening before your operation
- Do not smoke (cigarette, cannabis, vape) and do not consume alcohol.
- Remove all make-up, false eyelashes and nail polish.
- Remove artificial nails (fingers and toes).
- Remove all jewelry, including body piercings.
- Take a bath or shower without using scented products.
- Orthopedic surgery: Use antibacterial wipes or sponges if indicated by the nurse Link to “Skin preparation” pamphlet.
- Wash your hair and do not use any products after washing.
- Clean your CPAP or BiPAP.
- Fast after midnight (no food or liquid) or follow the instructions from the preoperative clinic.
- Make sure you have someone to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your departure (day surgery).
The morning of your operation
- Keep fasting.
- Take a bath or shower without using scented products; use antibacterial wipes or sponges if indicated by the nurse; use a clean towel.
- Only take the medications that the operating clinic nurse has authorized you to take with a sip of water (no additives).
- Do not wear any perfume, make-up or hair products.
- Do not wear any jewelry or body piercings.
- Bring:
- all your medications (including natural products), clearly identified or in the blister pack, as well as the pharmacy list;
- your Medicare card;
- your glasses instead of your contacts if possible, as well as a case;
- your BiPAP or CPAP if you have one;
- loose, comfortable clothing for the return home;
- the strict minimum, to avoid losing your personal belongings; the hospital is not responsible for personal effects that are lost.
- Arrive at the hospital at the time requested by hospital staff.
- Notify staff if you have dental jewelry.
- Diabetic patients: Remove your blood sugar sensor (e.g., FreeStyle) or insulin pump before arriving at the hospital.
What happens when you arrive on the day your surgery?
- When you arrive at the hospital, report to the location where the staff of the preoperative clinic or the OR booking office told you to go.
- A nurse will be with you to answer your questions and prepare you for your surgery.
- You must remove all your clothes, prostheses, dentures, glasses or contact lenses, as well as your underclothes. You will wear only a hospital gown.
- You can have a support person.
- You will meet your surgeon before the surgery.
- You will meet your anesthesiologist before your surgery. Together, you will decide on the best type of anesthesia for you, based on your medical history and the planned surgery.
After surgery, you will go to the recovery room (or day surgery if you have had local surgery).
The recovery room is a specialized area that allows patients to wake up in a safe environment. You will wake up gradually under the supervision of nurses who work closely with the anesthesiologists.
No visits are allowed.
Depending on your surgery, you may have:
- one or more solutions;
- one or more dressings;
- one or more drains;
- a urinary catheter;
- oxygen (mask or nasal cannula);
- a heart monitor;
- etc.
When your condition is stable, you will be transferred to day surgery, the short-stay unit or the nursing unit to begin your convalescence.
