Recovering From Anesthesia
Leaving the recovery area
When your normal body functions have returned, you either will be transferred to another location in the hospital to complete your recovery or allowed to go home.
In many cases minor surgical procedures are done on an outpatient basis. This means you will go home the same day. Before you are discharged from an outpatient clinic, you should be alert and able to understand and remember instructions. You will also want to make sure you have regained muscle control and coordination enough to walk safely, take fluids without vomiting, and take oral pain medicines safely. Depending on your medical history, your surgeon may also want you to be able to urinate before you are discharged.
When you are discharged, make sure you have:
- Reliable transportation to your home and for return to the hospital if complications develop. Do not plan to drive yourself home.
- A competent adult caregiver who can be with you for 24 hours after discharge.
- Access to a telephone so you can call for assistance if complications develop.
- Access to a pharmacy so you can get your prescriptions.
If you are not ready to go home, you will be transferred to another area in the hospital to complete your recovery. The length of your stay will depend on your response to your surgery.
