Surgical Procedure FAQ

We understand that for patients preparing for surgery can bring a great range of emotions, most of time anxiety, which usually is caused by the following reasons:

• Fear of the unknown
• Worrying about the surgery not working
• Fear of the anesthetic
• Losing personal identity
• Having to recover around strangers
• Losing control
• Pain
• Not being able to recover
• Being in an unfamiliar environment
• Death

Yes. You will be contacted prior to surgery by a member of the healthcare team from the facility where you will have your procedure. This call will include a routine health assessment, instructions for the day of surgery, and answers to any questions you may have. You may also be contacted by someone in our office to address financial matters such as your responsibility for copayments and deductibles.

Because of the pandemic, there are several protocols that constantly change, but most probably a COVID-19 Test will be necessary. Any pre-operative test will be determined by Dr. Roman-Pavajeau or the anesthesiologist and communicated to you prior to the date of your surgery.

If you experience any health issues or changes between your pre-op visit and the date of the surgery, you need to contact our office immediately.

Dr. Roman-Pavajeau will inform you of any eating or drinking restrictions prior to the surgery. It is very important that you follow the provided instructions. If you do not, your surgery may be delayed or cancelled. You should not eat or drink anything after midnight before the day of surgery.

You will be given instructions regarding your medications by the pre-op nurse. Also, please be prepared to list all medications, including name and dosage, you are taking and bring any with you that you may need during your stay at the facility such as inhalers, insulin, etc.

We know that surgery can be a new and difficult experience for you and your child. If your child needs a stuffed animal or security blanket, feel free to bring it with you on the day of surgery. It is important that a parent will remain with the child during this process, if allowed.

We understand you may be concerned about exposing your skin to conditions that will dry your skin a little bit more. Unfortunately, on the day of your surgery you shouldn’t put any cream, lotion, perfume, or powder on your skin. Your skin needs to be clean and dry, without any type of possible agents that increases the risk of infection.

You will be registered by a member of the healthcare staff of the facility. The admission process sometimes takes a few minutes but most of the time you need to be prepared to spend an hour at least. They need to finalize to check and to verify the information from you and collect any patient responsible payment.

A nurse will take you to the pre-operative assessment that will include taking your vital signs and starting an IV if it is required for the procedure you will have. The anesthesia nurse or doctor will speak with you to review all the information and to guide you to the process of getting under anesthetics.

There are restrictions about family members because of COVID-19. Our office staff should have informed you in advance, but you can confirm that information with the facility prior to surgery.

Our Practice primary concern is your safety, our doctor and the facilities he chooses will follow strict guidelines regarding site identification and procedure confirmation. National Patient Safety Goals have been developed and require your involvement too. You will be asked numerous times to confirm your full name, your date of birth and the procedure you will be having and the side. You must have an active role in all discussions with Dr. Roman-Pavajeau, with the anesthesiologist, and with the facility staff regarding the identification of your procedure. In most cases, Dr. Roman-Pavajeau will mark the site prior to your procedure.

Very often most procedures will require that you and Dr. Roman-Pavajeau confirm both the specific type of procedure during the office visits, specifically during the pre-op visit. On that day most likely Dr. Roman-Pavajeau will see you and talk to you, answer some questions and verify some information with you.

For sure! Dr. Roman-Pavajeau is all about his patients and he treats them with supreme delicacy. He will report to your family all about the surgical procedure and the expectations from it. During the surgery the staff will inform you of your progress if necessary or requested.

Once again it depends on multiple factors, including the changes with covid-19 pandemic.

As of now, only one person can be with you and wait for you in the waiting area during your procedure. If you have to be admitted to the hospital, your family member won’t be able to stay with you overnight.

Please verify this information with our office and/or the facility.

Absolutely! If your child would like to have a stuffed animal or security blanket let him bring it. It is important you also bring with you anything your child normally uses, for example bottle/sippy cup, pacifier, etc…

There are 5 different categories of anesthesia and sedations: Conscious Sedations, General, Regional, Monitored Anesthesia Care, and Local Anesthesia. Regardless of the type of sedation or anesthesia that you will receive, the anesthesia team will provide a safe procedure. You are encouraged to visit with your anesthesia provider to discuss any concern or ask any question.

All surgical procedures need anesthesia and all anesthetics have risks, these depend on many factors including the type of surgery, the medical condition of the patient. The anesthesiologist will assess you before surgery and he and his staff will take all precautions to minimize that risk. There are minor symptoms that are quite usual after being under anesthetics, such as vomiting, nausea, sore throat, dizziness, tiredness, headache, muscle aches and pain, hoarseness, most of these symptoms are expected after a long procedure but are easily treated. Once again, feel free to discuss any concern with the anesthesia provider.

Usually your anesthesiologist and your surgeon will develop an anesthetic care plan and that plan most of the time includes a pre-operative sedation which will help you to relax.

This is because when the anesthetic is used, your body's reflexes are temporarily stopped. If your stomach has food and drink in it, there's a risk of vomiting or bringing up food into your throat.

Another way to explain that is that regardless of surgery type or site, we want the stomach to be empty before having anesthesia, because anesthesia can reduce your body's ability to protect and prevent food or acids from the stomach from entering the lungs

Therefore it is important to refrain from eating and/or drinking including gum, ice, water, ice pops, etc, please follow the instructions carefully if you do not your surgery may be delayed or cancelled.

You won’t feel as much pain at the very first moment after waking up from surgery but after some hours. The management of your pain is very important to us. Dr. Roman-Pavajeu, will try to minimize the amount of narcotics you may be prescribed.

He and the health team will be assessing your pain level. During your stay at the hospital or facility you will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain using the scale you were instructed about at our office on your pre-op visit. The nurses, under the orders of the surgeon, will use a combination of different options like oral medications, intravenous, nerve blocks, and injections of local anesthetic during surgery, to help you feel comfortable. It is important that you remember that information on pain management give you the appropriate expectations and hence a more comfortable recovery.

Many pain medications take 20 to 30 minutes to begin to work. For best results the pain medication should be taken before the pain is too strong. If after considering these variables, your pain is the same, contact our office.

After surgery Dr. Roman-Pavajeau, will see you and give instructions to the recovery team. A nurse will monitor your vital signs and your waking up process and make sure you are comfortable. Once you are alert and mostly awake, one member of your family will be able to see you in the recovery area (depending on the protocols of COVID-19) For minors, there may be different arrangements after surgery.

No! You won’t be allowed to go home by yourself. You need someone to accompany you, older than 18. If you do not have any person with you, we may need to find you a safe transportation at your cost.

We hope you will feel ok enough to go home. Occasionally admission to a hospital from surgery happens, these needs to be determined by your surgeon and the anesthesiologist. They are the only ones to determine if you can be admitted to the hospital for additional post-operative care. That also depends on your insurance benefits.

If you are in very bad pain or if you are experiencing any of the problems described in the paperwork you have received from the discharge nurse, you need to contact our office immediately and go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 to request an ambulance to go back to the facility where you had your surgery, if possible.

Your surgeons may have specific recommendations for your diet after surgery. We generally suggest that you eat lightly after surgery and strongly encourage drinking plenty of water or fluids. Caffeine, alcoholic beverages, and sugary drinks are strongly prohibited.