Surgical Center FAQ

When will I know my arrival time?

Approximately two days prior to your surgery, you will receive a phone call from a staff member who will review your preoperative instructions with you and will provide you with your arrival time. It is important that you follow your preoperative instructions carefully.

If you have not received a call by 2:00pm on the day prior to your surgery, please call (402) 421-8899.

How long will I be there on the day of surgery?

In general, you should allow approximately an hour for a cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, or vasectomy.

Procedures requiring anesthesia may require up to a 4 hour stay, however this is really variable based on your procedure type and how you, individually recover from the effects of anesthesia.

What can I expect for a procedure at Urology Surgical Center?

You will be greeted in the surgery center reception area. Our receptionist will verify your information (demographic and insurance) and will alert the nursing staff of your arrival.

You will be assisted to change into a hospital gown, robe, and slipper socks. Your vital signs; including your blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate will be checked by one of our nurses prior to your procedure. Our team will ensure you are educated about your procedure and the plan for your care and your consent for treatment will be obtained. We will review your medications and health history with you. Your provider may order additional testing (i.e. labwork or x-ray’s) to be done at this time as well. Depending on your procedure, your surgeon may “mark” your operative site as an additional safety measure.

If you are having anesthesia, we will start an I.V. and you will meet with an Anesthesia provider prior to your procedure to discuss your anesthesia plan of care. Most pediatric patients IV’s will be started after the patient is asleep as long as it is safe to do so.

You will be assisted to one of our operating rooms where our qualified surgical team will care for you during your procedure. Prior to starting your procedure, our team will conduct a “Timeout” to verify the correct patient, planned procedure, and to discuss any important items for your care.  Depending on your planned procedure, you may have a physician, an advanced practice provider, Registered Nurses, Surgical Technologists, Radiology Technicians, and/or other pertinent personnel present during your surgery. Urology Surgical Center does value education and serves as a training site for students in the medical field. We will first ask you for your permission if there are students present who would like to observe your procedure.

Depending on your surgery and type of anesthesia you received, you may remain in bed for a short time, move directly to a recliner, or change clothes and be dismissed. Family members are generally allowed in the recovery areas, however patient safety is our priority, so visitors are at the discretion of the nurse and care team.

Patients will be monitored to ensure they are safe to discharge from the facility. Recovery time can vary from patient to patient. For your safety, after receiving sedating medication or anesthesia, you MUST have someone you home and to be with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure.

If I start my menstrual cycle should I still come to my appointment?

You can still come for your appointment. You may be asked to remove tampons prior to your procedure.

How long UNtil I have results from my procedure?

Your provider will review your specific testing and the anticipated wait time for results with you. In general, a plan of care can be established following a cystoscopy, however there are times when the results of additional testing (i.e. labs or bladder biopsy) may affect this. In some cases, results are provided over the phone and in other cases, a follow-up appointment is needed. In general, if you haven’t received results within 14 days, please call our office at 402-489-8888.

Why can't I eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior to surgery?

For patients receiving anesthesia, it is very important that you follow the instructions provided to you by our nurse regarding eating and drinking. If you have food or liquid in your stomach at the time you receive anesthesia, there is an increased risk of vomiting with potential for aspirating stomach contents back into your lungs. Failure to follow your instructions for eating and drinking may result in the cancellation and rescheduling of your procedure.

What and when will I be able to eat?

After your procedure, specific instructions for eating and drinking will be provided to you. During your recovery period, you will be offered light snacks and something to drink. In general, you may resume eating as you feel up to it. We recommend starting with light, non-greasy foods, such as toast, applesauce or soup, to prevent nausea and/or vomiting in the hours following anesthesia.

Will I be asleep and will it hurt?

If your procedure is scheduled without anesthesia, medications will be topically applied or used to numb your surgical area and minimize the discomfort of the procedure. In some situations, your provider may also prescribe oral medications to help you relax prior to the procedure. If you receive an oral sedating medication, you will be required to have someone drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours following your procedure. 

 If you receive moderate or IV sedation, your anesthesia provider will be at your side adjusting medication to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the procedure. 

General anesthesia patients are completely sedated and monitored by an anesthesia provider to prevent them from feeling or hearing anything during the procedure.

Why do I have to remove all my jewelry before surgery?

During your procedure, your surgeon may use equipment that uses electricity. If you have jewelry on, there is a risk that the electricity could be drawn to your jewelry and could cause a burn. For this reason, we ask that you leave all jewelry at home.

Will I need pre-testing before my surgery?

Depending on your procedure and overall health, you may need pre-operative testing and/or an appointment with a primary provider to ensure that you are healthy and safe to undergo a procedure. This will be determined by your surgery and anesthesiologist prior to surgery.

Can I wear my dentures during my procedure?

If you are having general anesthesia, we will request that you remove your dentures just prior going into the operating room. They will be given back to you as soon as you are awake. This is due to the possibility of bending or breaking during your procedure when you will not be able to protect the dentures. If you are having only topical anesthesia, you may keep your dentures intact.

Do I need a driver?

We do advise that you have someone available to drive you in some cases. If you are receiving general or moderate/IV anesthesia or if you take sedating medication, you must have a driver for your safety. For procedures that are scheduled without anesthesia (i.e. cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, vasectomy, etc.) you may drive yourself as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

Can my driver leave the center while I am in surgery?

Minor/pediatric patients are required to have a responsible adult in the center with them at all times.

We do request that, whenever possible, your escort remain at the center until you are ready to leave. It is acceptable if they have a short errand to make and will return immediately prior to you being ready for discharge. If your driver leaves the center, we must have a phone number to reach them.

How soon can I go back to work?

Your ability to return to work will be determined by your surgeon. You are encouraged to discuss them with him/her at your appointment. If needed, a release can be provided to you for the day of the procedure and FMLA/disability forms can be completed by clinic personnel. There is a nominal fee for this and it may take up to 1 week for completion.

Will my family member be allowed in the pre-op or recovery area?

In general, we believe that it is important for family members to be able to be present as much as possible in the preop and recovery phases of care. Patient safety, visitor safety, patient privacy and confidentiality are also important, so we entrust this to the discretion of our nursing staff. In general, we ask that no more than 2 family members/visitors are present to accompany a patient.

What if I feel sick in the days leading up to my procedure?

Please call our preadmission nurse at 402-421-8899 to discuss your procedure and current illness or symptoms. Our nurse will work closely with your surgeon to determine if there is a need to reschedule.

I still have questions about my procedure or have concerns to discuss

You may call 402-421-8899 if your questions are related to your planned procedure, procedure instructions, postoperative care, etc. This will connect you with our surgery preadmission nurse. If your questions is more general or related to your clinic appointment or if you are calling for procedure results, please call 402-489-8888 to speak with a clinic nurse.