Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 26

The Day of Surgery When you arrive at the hospital, you will need to register. After this, you will be taken to a waiting area until the nurse comes to get you before surgery. Pre-operative Care Unit (Pre-Op) A nurse will take you to the Pre-Op area. You will change into a hospital gown. An IV (intravenous) line will be inserted into your arm. This will be used to provide fluids and medications. You’ll meet your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to discuss the medication that will help you sleep during surgery. Ask any questions you may have at this time. Before surgery begins, you’ll be given general anesthesia to put you into a controlled sleep while the surgery is being done. You will not feel any pain or remember the surgery. During Surgery After you go to sleep, a tube may be put into your nose, down your throat, and into your stomach. This is called a nasogastric tube or NG. It is used to remove fluids in your stomach until your stomach and bowel begin to work again after surgery. You will have a tube put in to drain urine from your bladder. This is called a Foley catheter and will be connected to a drainage bag. The catheter will be removed by the second or third day after surgery. Then you will be able to urinate normally. Compression devices are used to improve circulation in your legs and prevent blood clots. These are wraps that are placed on your legs. A pump is attached and forces air into the wraps, then releases it — acting like a massage. Your heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing will be monitored during surgery. 25