Preparing for surgery can be very distressing. Patients and the family are usually very anxious and tensed. A lot of questions can come to mind. But it's important to ask the right questions before any surgery to alleviate surgery related anxiety.
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss about all the facts that the patient should be aware of before surgery. Although your surgeon would explain all the details, it's always preferable to clear all your doubts before going ahead with surgery.
What is the nature and severity of the disease process?
Even before surgery, it's important to understand the disease process and its severity. The possibility of cure depends not only on the type of the disease and also it's stage or severity. Postoperative recovery is also largely dependant on the disease and it's severity. Hence, it is vital that you have a basic understanding of the disease process.
Basic details of the surgery.
Though it's beyond the scope of any surgeon to explain all the details of the surgery, the patient and the family will be explained, in brief, about the kind of surgery and the approximate duration of the procedure.
Alternative options.
It's always a good practice to know alternative treatment options i.e. medical treatment, physiotherapy, minimally invasive procedures and their suitability to your patients condition. In most of the conditions, surgery is the last resort, while in certain conditions, surgery is the primary option. Ask your doctor if alternative forms of treatment are suitable for you.
Complications of the procedure
No surgery is free of complications. However, the incidence and severity of the complications differ from procedure to procedure. It's very important to know common complications of the surgical procedure before consent. However, it's not possible to predict the occurrence of any complication before surgery.
It is important to know the difference between sequelae and complications. While sequelae are inevitable occurances ( and happens every time after a particular procedure), complications may or may not happen after a procedure.
Special precauations
Postoperative care is a very difficult period and needs special care and attention. It is always helpful to know the usual postoperative course and approximate duration of hospital stay. However, the duration of hospital stay may change in case of unexpected complications.
Also ask about the special precautions that need to be taken after surgery and in the immediate post operative period.
Always remember that a team of doctors and other healthcare staff will be working as a team to help you recover as early as possible and trust in your healthcare team helps a lot to alleviate anxiety.
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