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Safety Before and After Surgery Tips and Instructions
Your health care providers, including your surgical team, take many precautions to keep you safe during surgery. This sheet explains the steps that your health care providers take to prevent surgical error and to reduce the risk of complications.
It also lists some things that you, your friends, and your family members can do to ensure a safe surgery.
What is surgical error?
Surgical error is when a mistake is made during a procedure. Types of surgical error include:
- Operating on the wrong person.
- Operating on the wrong body part.
- Performing the wrong operation.
- Making a medicine mistake.
- Making a surgical mistake.
What is a complication?
A complication is a change in the normal surgical plan of care. Complications are known risks that, while rare, can occur during or after surgery. Examples of complications include:
- Infection.
- Excess bleeding.
- Inhaling food or liquids from your stomach into your lungs (aspiration).
- Allergic reaction to medicines.
Review all risks and complications with your health care provider as part of the informed consent procedure before your surgery. Ask questions if you do not understand something.
What steps are taken to prevent surgical error and complications?
Your health care providers, including your surgical team, take many steps before and during a procedure to reduce the risk of error and complication. These steps include:
- Placing an identification bracelet on your wrist and checking it often.
- Checking the surgical consent form to make sure it is correct.
- Reviewing the surgical consent form with you to make sure that you understand the procedure.
- Reviewing your medicines and history of allergies to prevent drug reactions and interactions.
- Marking the surgical site before the procedure.
- Washing and disinfecting the surgical site before the procedure to prevent infection.
- Giving you a list of safety steps to take before surgery. This usually includes what foods or medicines to avoid and any lifestyle changes you should make before the procedure, such as quitting smoking.
How can I help to promote a safe surgery?
One way you can help to prevent surgical error is by choosing a surgeon and facility that is right for you. To do this:
- Ask how many times your surgeon has performed the surgery you will be having.
- Ask how often the surgery is done in the hospital where you will have the procedure.
- Choose a hospital that is licensed, accredited, and has a system in place in case of an emergency.
Here are some other steps you can take:
- Talk to your anesthesia provider about your medicines, allergies, any drug use, and any previous drug or anesthesia reactions you have had. Be honest.
- Review the surgical consent form. Make sure you understand it completely.
- Mark your surgical site. This will be done just before surgery. Your health care provider will give you a special marker to use. Make sure it is the correct area for surgery.
- Do not eat any food or drink before surgery if your surgeon has instructed you not to.
- Keep the surgical area clean. Follow instructions if you are asked to shower with an antibacterial soap.
- Follow all of your home care instructions. Wash your hands often, and especially before bandage (dressing) changes.
How can my friends or family members promote a safe surgery?
Friends and family can help by:
- Going with you to your medical appointments before your surgery to make sure you understand the procedure.
- Reviewing the safety steps that you need to take before surgery and making sure that you follow them.
- Knowing what surgery you are scheduled to have.
- Double-checking that the correct body part is marked before surgery.
- Going with you to the procedure.
- Advocating for you on your behalf if you cannot do so.
- Following the home care instructions for after the surgery to help you heal well.
Questions to ask before surgery
- Why do I need surgery? Is another treatment available?
- What are the risks and benefits of the surgery?
- Do I have a choice of anesthesia?
- What should I expect after surgery? Can I eat and drink after surgery? How much pain will I have? When can I go back to work?
- What is your experience with this type of surgery? Is the surgery center accredited?
- Do you take my insurance? How much will the surgery cost?
Seek Additional Information
- American College of Surgeons: https://www.facs.org/education/patient-education/patient-resources/prepare/operation-and-recovery
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/features/safesurgery/index.html
Summary
- Your surgical team takes specific precautions to prevent surgical errors and complications.
- You can take steps to promote a safe surgery.
- Ask questions before your procedure, and make sure that you understand what will happen.
- Make sure that you understand your instructions for home care.
