FAQ General Surgery

Prior to your general surgery, you will be given instructions about eating and drinking. In most cases, you are asked to stop eating and drinking (except water) about 12 hours prior to when your surgery is scheduled. It is important for your stomach to be empty during your surgery to prevent complications while you are under anesthesia. Since anesthesia affects your body, you are at risk of vomiting or regurgitating your food if you have food in your stomach. If you eat prior to your surgery, your procedure may have to be rescheduled, so be sure to follow the instructions you are given and ask questions if you have any.

Generally, you should take your medications prior to surgery. You can take them with a sip of water. Make sure your doctor knows all medications and supplements you take on a daily basis. If there are any medications or supplements you should not take prior to your surgery, your doctor will let you know. Some medications and supplements can interact with anesthesia, which can lead to complications during your general surgery. If you have medications you're required to take with food, be sure to talk to your general surgeon about whether to take these medications prior to your surgery.

If you develop a fever or an illness before your surgery, it is important to call your doctor or general surgeon and let them know you are sick. Your general surgeon will decide whether your illness is severe enough to reschedule your surgery or if it will be okay to go ahead. The decision to delay the surgery will also depend on the surgical procedure you have scheduled. More invasive surgeries may need to be rescheduled because your body will be at higher risk. Minor or outpatient surgeries may be able to go ahead if your symptoms are minor.

If your general surgery is an outpatient procedure, you will be able to go home the same day as long as there are no complications during or after your surgical procedure. If your surgery is not an outpatient procedure, you will have to stay at least one night to recover and ensure there are no complications following the surgery. The amount of time you will need to stay after the surgery will depend on how invasive the surgery is, your overall health, and any concerns your general surgeon has about you and the outcomes from the surgery.

The length of time you need to recover from your surgery will depend on a number of factors. How invasive the surgery is, your health, and whether there were any complications all contribute to the length of recovery time. When you come out of anesthesia, the general surgeon will give you more information about your recovery and what to expect during the healing process. You will also be given information about how the recovery process after you go home, such as limitations, medication, and when to return for a follow-up appointment.

The timeframe for returning to work varies based on the type of procedure performed and the nature of your job. Patients with desk jobs can typically return to their roles, including light activities like walking, within a few days after surgery. However, for those whose jobs require heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity, it is generally recommended to wait about four weeks before resuming work. Please consult Dr. Ahmad for specific guidance.

The majority of patients recover without experiencing any complications. However, as previously mentioned, complications can arise with any surgery. These may include bleeding, infection, damage to nearby structures, or leakage from the anastomosis. Some complications can be identified immediately and may require either additional surgical intervention or non-surgical treatment. Other issues might not become apparent until weeks or later after the procedure and can be addressed accordingly at that time. The approach to managing complications will depend on the specific issue encountered. Please discuss potential complications and how they will be managed with Dr. Ahmad before your surgery.