Planned surgery, while medically necessary, is surgery
that is scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency
and does not need to be performed immediately. Examples of planned surgery
include: exploratory or diagnostic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, some
orthopedic surgeries such as a hip, knee, or shoulder replacement or
reconstructive surgery, removal of a malignancy, inguinal hernia surgery,
cataract surgery, gallbladder removal, some hysterectomies, cosmetic surgery
and more.
Unplanned surgery arises from an
accident or other medical emergency. It is surgery that cannot be delayed and must
be performed immediately, or within a day or two. Examples include: trauma,
appendicitis, aneurysm, aortic dissection, internal bleeding, subdural hematoma
(from a head injury), orthopedic emergencies, such as a bone badly broken in a
fall, extensive burns, twisted ovarian cyst, ruptured fallopian tube,
amputations and more.
Unplanned or emergency surgery—or plain ol’ unplanned emergencies—occur every
day. Sometimes stuff just happens. These emergencies can provide some of the
most challenging and scary moments in our lives. If this describes the
situation you find yourself in, the first thing to know is,
You and the human spirit possess
infinite strength—you can do this!
Knowing this, the most important thing to do immediately
is,
Having someone you trust by your side is crucial. While there may be a lot to consider, the short- and long-term, it is simply too much to undertake alone. You will need someone to help you sort through the priorities and help you come up with a workable plan. You need an advocate!
Due to
their nature—emergent—things may happen at an accelerated pace which can feel
out of control. You may not have the luxury to make some choices; in fact,
depending on your unique situation, there may be a lot of stuff you don’t have
control over. For example, if you go to the doctor for hip pain and they
recommend a hip replacement you may have time to do research on the surgery, the
surgeon, the recovery, etc. However, if you fall and break your hip you will
likely need to undergo emergency surgery where you don’t have the liberty of
choosing your orthopedic surgeon or hospital, or plan the timing. Depending on the
gravity of a situation, it could mean immediate surgery performed by the
surgeon on-call. With an emergency you may have to roll with it. Saving
your life comes first.
What do I need to know right now?
- Know you can do this!
- Pick up the phone and call someone who can come to the hospital—right now—and help you. (If you can’t call yourself, give the person’s name and number to a nurse and ask them to make the call for you—right now.)
- Take a deep breath and let go. Not everything is going to get resolved right now.
- Take it one step at a time. There may be a lot to consider, both right now and in the day(s) to come. An advocate present can help with all this. For some, having an advocate present will allow a patient to relax, knowing someone is watching over them.
What about after things have calmed down, then what? Once stabilized and out of danger:
- Make sure you understand what’s going on and taking place and what the healing and recovery process look like.
- Ask for help generating this plan for the future—for your hospital stay and release. Include plans for stays in a rehabilitation facility and the transition home.
- Ask a trusted family member or friend to help you organize and prepare your home for your return. If a patient is incapacitated, someone simply taking the initiative and doing this would be incredibly helpful.
