After your surgery, Dr Audrey Ng will stay with you to make sure that you wake up properly and that your vital signs are stable. Only then will it be safe for patients to be transferred to the recovery section of theatre called PACU (Post Anaesthetic Care Unit).
Some patients may experience some complications such as nausea, headache or sore throat. These problems are temporary and we can treat them should they arise. It is also not uncommon to feel drowsy and slightly dizzy when you first wake up. When you are fully awake and comfortable, you will then be transferred from PACU back to the hospital ward for your overnight stay or to the discharge lounge (if you are having day surgery).
Both sedation or a general anaesthetic will affect your mental function until the drugs have been eliminated from your body. Some patients will feel slightly disorientated or forgetful. Even if you do not experience these symptoms and feel perfectly normal, your judgement and reaction time will be impaired after having an anaesthetic. You will not be at your sharpest so it is wise to take things easy for the next 24 hours and avoid doing anything potentially dangerous.
Dr. Ng will explain your pain relief options and make the necessary arrangements so that you can recover comfortably.
If you are going home on the same day as your procedure, you must take these safety precautions:
- Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours.
- For the next 24 hours post surgery, you should NOT do the following:
- drive a motor vehicle
use any dangerous equipment or tools
make important decisions
- sign any legal documents
- drink alcohol or take recreational drugs
