Information for Patients: Preparing for Anesthesia and Surgery

Pain Management

The management of postoperative pain should begin in the preoperative period while you are preparing yourself for surgery. Various factors must be considered such as anxiety, fear of surgery experience and anticipation of pain. A thorough history which includes your current medications, a pain assessment, and education on the use of a pain scale will provide a basis for your plan for pain management. A pain scale is a measurement tool that the staff will use to assess your comfort level. The more detailed an accurate the information, the more adequate pain relief you can expect. Depending on whether you are going home the same day, staying over night or for a few days, immediately following your surgery there are various options for pain management. These methods take into account the extent of your surgery, type of anesthesia, and past medical history and they include local infiltration at the site, oral, intramuscular, intravenous and epidural. A pain management plan will be designed specific to your needs.

• Pre-anesthetic Interview/Testing
• What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
• Preoperative Holding Area
• What to Expect in the Operating Room
• What to Expect in the Postanesthesia Care Unit
• Admission to a Facility
• Outpatient Surgery
• What to Expect if You Are Going Home on the Day of Surgery
• Pain Management