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Podiatry Associates, LLC
123 Main Street
Anytown, NY 11111
USA
212-555-4321
212-555-1234 fax
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Podiatry Associates, LLC
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It's normal to be apprehensive about surgery, and to have doubts whether the right step is being taken. Not knowing what's involved may mean putting yourself through as much grief as the procedure intends to relieve. Whether you are undergoing surgery for the first time or the tenth, understanding why you need it, the risks involved, available alternative treatments, and the aftereffects will help you make the right decisions and deal effectively with the outcome.
The Second Opinion
Physicians have differences of opinion about the best way to treat a medical condition. A second opinion is a time-honored practice in the medical profession that better enables people to weigh the benefits and risks of surgery against possible alternatives to surgery.
Routine Tests
The practice of ordering laboratory tests before admission for surgery is commonplace in most hospitals. Many doctors believe that urinalysis, chest x-rays, or complete blood counts, for example, can identify potential problems that might complicate the surgery if not detected and treated early. Some tests commonly performed before surgery are:
- chest x-ray
- electrocardiogram (EKG)
- urinalysis
- white blood count
- platelet count
- glucose
- potassium
- sodium
Anethesthesia
Anesthesia is the art and science of relieving pain and keeping patients safe and stable during surgery. But for patients already nervous about their impending surgery, the idea of being unconscious may not be a comforting thought, especially if it's coupled with the fear of not regaining consciousness.
Although many people associate anesthesia with regular sleeping, slumber is only a side effect. If you were to go to sleep and surgery began, you'd wake up in a hurry.
The unconsciousness or "deep sleep" required for surgery is another matter. The deep sleep that is required for loss of sensation of pain occurs in stages, beginning with a gradual dozing off to an eventual drifting into paralysis so that the nerve responses are dampened. Unconsciousness must then be maintained during surgery so that patients are not aware of their surroundings and do not experience pain.
Problems traditionally associated with anesthesia such as drug hangover, nausea, and awareness have been lessened over the years by better drugs, improved monitoring, and specialized training.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Have Surgery
The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommends you ask your physician the following types of questions before having surgery. The answers to these questions will help you be informed and make the best decision about whether to have surgery, by whom, where, and when. Patients who are well-informed about their treatment, according to the agency, are usually more satisfied with the outcome and results.
- Why do I need the operation? There are many reasons to have surgery. Some operations can relieve or prevent pain, others can reduce the symptom of a problem or improve some body function, and some surgeries are performed to diagnose a problem. Surgery can also save your life. When your surgeon tells you the purpose of the procedure, make certain you understand how the recommended operation fits in with the diagnosis of your medical condition.
- Are there alternatives to surgery? Sometimes surgery is not the only answer to a medical problem. Medicines or other non-surgical treatments might help you just as well or more. Always ask your doctor or surgeon about other possible choices.
- What are the benefits of having the operation? Ask your surgeon what you will gain by having the operation. For example, hip replacement may mean that you can walk again with ease. Ask how long the benefits are likely to last. For some procedures, it is not unusual for the benefits to last for a short time only. There might be a need for a second operation at a later date. For other procedures, the benefits may last a lifetime. Be realistic. Some patients expect too much and are disappointed with the results.
- What are the risks of having the operation? All surgery carries some risk. This is why you need to weigh the benefits of having the operation against the risk of complications or side effects. There is almost always some pain with surgery. Ask how much you can expect and what the health-care providers will do to reduce pain.
- What if I don't have this operation? Based on what you learn about the benefits and risks of the operation, you might decide not to have it. But you must also decide what the likely outcome will be for the condition -- it could stay the same, continuing to cause pain, it could get worse, or it could clear up on its own -- if you choose not to have the surgery.
- What is your experience in performing this surgery? One way to reduce the risks of surgery is to choose a surgeon who has been thoroughly trained in the procedure you are considering. Besides asking the surgeon directly, you can also ask your primary-care physician about the surgeon's qualifications.
- What kind of anesthesia will I need? Your surgeon can tell you whether the operation calls for local anesthesia (a numbing of only a part of the body for a short time), regional anesthesia (a numbing of a larger portion of the body for a few hours), or general anesthesia (a numbing of the entire body for the entire time of the surgery) and why this form of anesthesia is recommended for your procedure. Ask what the side effects and risks of having anesthesia are in your case. Be sure to mention any medical problems you have, including allergies, and any medications you have been taking, since they may affect your response to the anesthesia.
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