The Surgical Service provides surgical, endoscopic and anesthetic services as well as consultation and education to referred client, on a 24-hour basis. An experienced and dynamic team works in collaboration with internal services and the health care network.

The personnel of our service ensures quality care that meets and even exceeds the needs of clients in a safe, caring, friendly and professional atmosphere. The staff demonstrates continual improvement through the introduction of new programs and procedures that meet required standards while remaining within budget guidelines.

Pre-operative clinic
All elective surgery patients will be seen pre-operatively on an outpatient basis by an anesthetist, an operating room nurse, an admitting clerk and by a laboratory and radiology technician, if needed. All patients will have the required pre-op tests done within a month of their surgery, preferably as close to the surgery date as possible.

The goal of the Clinic is:

• to ensure the quality of care;
• to allow the patient more control over his pre-operative preparation;
• to answer queries and therefore decrease some anxiety;
• to better coordinate the client's needs.

Before your surgery

• Decrease smoking one to two weeks before surgery. You should not smoke after 6 p.m. the evening before your surgery.
• Do not eat after 8 p.m. the evening before your surgery. Liquids are allowed until midnight (but no dairy products or alcohol). AFTER MIDNIGHT, DO NOT DRINK, EAT OR SMOKE. Don't chew gum the morning of your surgery.
• Take a bath or shower and clean your navel thoroughly with Q-tips if your surgery is on your abdomen.
• Leave all jewelry (including body piercing jewelry, metal items, hair clips and money) at home.
• Remove nail polish and contact lenses.
• Do not apply make-up on the morning of your surgery.
• You can brush your teeth or gargle the morning of your surgery but do not swallow anything.
• Apply antiperspirant or deodorant only if your surgery isn't in the area of your underarms.
• Wear loose fitting clothing to be more comfortable following your surgery. Children are encouraged to bring a favorite toy with them. You may bring a "walkman" and tapes or Compact Disks if you are having a spinal anesthetic.

On admission
On the day of your surgery, register with the Emergency Room clerk between 7 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Once this is done, follow the red dots on the floor to the Day Surgery Unit. Look for the violet "J" sign to your left.

A nurse will greet you and tell you the time of your surgery (between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.). You may have one attendant accompany you and stay with you. For endoscopies and minor surgeries without anesthesia, the attendant must wait in the waiting room in the front lobby of the hospital.

• You will be asked to put on a hospital gown. You may leave your clothes with your attendant or you can store them in a locker which you can lock.
• A nurse will record your weight, temperature and blood pressure.
• You will be placed on a stretcher and covered with a warm blanket.
• Your file will be completed and any questions you may have will be answered.
• If needed, a nurse will shave the area to be operated on, give you an enema and start an intravenous.
• You may be given a sedative ( by mouth) or a Ventolin treatment, if ordered. If you are having a general anesthetic, your dentures and/or eye glasses will be removed just prior to your surgery and kept in the recovery room.

If you are going home on the same day as your surgery:

• Please ensure that at all times, we can contact a responsible person to take you home. You are not allowed to stay alone for a period of 24 hours and you are not allowed to drive for 24 hours.
• A nurse will call you at home the day following your surgery.

• The person accompanying you will be responsible for your personal possessions.