The surgery department at WHMC features three operating rooms as well as a highly trained skilled and caring staff. With new technologies many surgical procedures are now performed on an outpatient basis. With procedures that require a hospital stay we strive to make your stay as comfortable as possible knowing that no matter how comfortable we make your stay with us there is nothing like the comforts of home.
A variety of surgeries are performed at WHMC, including:
- Orthopedic
- Ophthalmology
- Gynecology
- Urology
- Ear, nose and throat
- General surgery
The department also includes our same day services program as well as recovery.
Anesthesia: True or false?
Anesthesia, or anesthetics, blocks all feeling and can help you get through medical procedures without pain—and, often, without awareness.
While "going under" may be common, how much do you know about anesthesia?
True or false: Ether was the first anesthetic successfully used to put people under for surgery.
True. In 1846, a dentist demonstrated how ether fumes could be used to knock people out during surgery.
True or false: General anesthetics allow you to become unconscious and can only be delivered by gas.
False. General anesthesia does knock you out so that you have no awareness or sensations during surgery. But these drugs can be injected into your bloodstream or inhaled as a gas.
True or false: Getting anesthesia always means becoming unconscious.
False. Some anesthetics can be given with or without sedation, so you can stay awake. A local anesthetic numbs only a small part of your body, such as a tooth or a finger. A regional anesthetic helps numb larger areas and is delivered through a cluster of nerves.
True or false. General anesthetics that are inhaled wear off faster than those that are injected into veins.
False. Inhaled anesthetics take longer to wear off than those given through the veins. Intravenous anesthetics disappear from the bloodstream quickly, allowing patients to go home sooner after surgery.
True or false: Anesthesiologists are medical doctors.
True. Anesthesiologists have a medical degree. They also have to complete a four-year residency in anesthesiology.
Are you scheduled for a medical procedure or surgery? Ask your doctor what kind of anesthesia you can expect to have.
You will be asked to come to the hospital for a pre-operative appointment about 5 days prior to your scheduled surgery. This appointment is so that we can review your history and do any lab work or x-rays that your physician has ordered. You will also be given instructions that discuss any medications you should take the morning of surgery and also if you should discontinue any medications prior to your procedure.
If you are having an anesthetic with your procedure you will need to make arrangements for someone to drive you home after surgery.
Please be sure to leave all valuables such as jewelry and cash at home.
If you are having out patient surgery after your procedure is completed you will spend approximately 1 hour in the recovery room and then be transported back to the same day services area where you will complete your recovery phase.
There are certain criteria that you have to meet before you can be discharged such as being able to eat, urinate, and have your pain controlled with oral medications. You will not be able to drive yourself home and your escort will need to come in the hospital to sign a discharge form.
The day after your surgery one of the nurses from the same day services unit will call you to see how you are doing. If you are having any problems they will be glad to help.