Adult day surgery discharge information

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Consultant: ____________________________________________

Place of surgery: ________________________________________

Date of surgery: ________________________________________

What is this information about?

This leaflet gives you general discharge advice following your day surgery procedure. 

It is important to remember that because you have had a general, local or spinal anaesthetic or sedation for your procedure, you will need time to recover at home. Day surgery does not mean day recovery.

This information tells you about pain relief, looking after your wound, and starting your normal activities again. It also tells you things to be aware of, including risk of infection or blood clots.

Why have I been given this information?

You have been given this information because you have had surgery as a day patient. Reading this information, and following the advice here, means that you will be able to take care of yourself and recover safely once you get home.

Keep this information in a safe place once you get home, so you or the person looking after you can refer to it if needed.

How might I feel after I have had a general anaesthetic?

General anaesthetic and sedation will affect your judgement, coordination and memory for 24 hours.

You may feel hazy or groggy after surgery.

You may find that it takes you a few days to feel fully recovered from your surgery. This also depends on what surgery you have had.

How can I get home after surgery?

You will need someone to pick you up or take you home in a taxi.

You will still be recovering from surgery once you are home so you must have an adult with you for at least the first 24 hours.

When can I start my usual activities again?

Everyone recovers differently. There is no definite rule as to when you can start doing your usual daily activities again, but there are some things that you should not do for 24 hours after your operation.

For 24 hours after your operation

What should I do if I feel any pain once I get home?

All surgical interventions will cause some discomfort which may last for a few days. Remember to take painkillers as soon as you feel pain because sometimes they can take 20 minutes to start working.

• Local anaesthetic will wear off once you are home, but you may feel some soreness or discomfort.  Make sure you have some mild pain relief, such as paracetamol, at home. Please take as per the instructions on the packet if you have pain. Please contact NHS 111 or your GP if you still have any numbness or weakness in the affected area after 48 hours.
• Spinal anaesthetic. Most people do not have any problems after their spinal anaesthetic. However, please contact the Surgical Unit where you had your surgery for advice if you experience any of the following:
  • A persistent (ongoing) headache that is usually worse when you are standing and better when you are lying down, in the first couple of days after you have been discharged.
  • If you develop a sudden weakness in your leg(s) or loss of bowel and bladder control (being able to control when you poo or pee) you should seek medical advice immediately.
  • If you have a new lower back ache, redness or pus at the injection site, neck stiffness with a headache or high temperature in the first couple of days after the anaesthetic, please seek urgent medical advice.
  • If you have any tingling in your legs after 48 hours or it is getting worse. Please contact your GP for advice.

Make sure you have some mild pain relief, such as paracetamol, at home. Please take as per the instructions on the packet if you have pain.

Will I be given pain relief tablets to take home?

This depends on your situation and the operation that you have had. Your nurse will provide the information below to show which piece of advice to follow when you get home.

How should I look after my wound when I am home?

For most surgical wounds you will have a dressing (bandage) in place. Keep your wound dry for 24 to 48 hours unless you have been advised otherwise. You may then resume your normal washing routine. Do not soak in the bath or shower for long periods of time as this may dissolve your stitches too soon.

You will have been given specific advice about how long to keep the dressing on for the type of wound you have (see below), but once the dressing is removed, leave the wound exposed.

Please keep your dressing in place until ___________________ .

You may then remove the dressing and continue to keep the wound clean and dry. Do not use harsh soaps or perfumes on or around the wound site.

What should I do if my wound starts to bleed?

As part of the healing process, it is normal for the wound to feel warm and appear red. Some bleeding or leaking can be expected from the wound, but this should settle in a few days. If this does not settle, please contact your GP.

If your wound starts to bleed, apply pressure with a clean towel or gauze if you have it, for 15 to 20 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, please contact your GP or go to the nearest minor injuries centre or Emergency Department.

What are the signs of infection in a wound?

• More redness or heat around the wound than you had when you left hospital
• New pain
• Swelling
• Discharge from the wound
• Fever

If any of these happen, then please contact NHS 111 or your GP for urgent advice or go to your nearest minor injuries centre or Emergency Department.

How can I avoid a blood clot?

The sooner you start to move around the better. Lying in bed for too long can cause some of your blood to pool in your legs and this puts you at risk of a blood clot.

Doing leg exercises can help prevent a blood clot. These are as simple as flexing your knees or ankles and rotating your feet.

You will be given special support stockings (compression stockings) to wear during the surgery and if you are felt to be high risk you may be given these to take home too.

Some people are given an injection to thin the blood slightly to help reduce the risk of clots.

Will there by any changes in the way I pass urine (pee) and what should I do about it?

If you have had a procedure on your bladder, prostate or kidneys, then you may notice some changes when you pass urine (pee). For example,

• you may feel a little stinging the first few times you pass urine
• you may notice that your urine is pink in colour or has some debris (bits) in it
• you may find it harder to pass urine and the flow to your urine may be reduced.

This is all normal after this type of surgery.

Make sure you drink plenty of water (if you can, 2 to 3 litres per day). If you are unable to pass urine once you get home and feel uncomfortable, you may have to go to your local Emergency Department.

Will I have a follow-up appointment?

This depends on your situation and the operation you have had.  Please see below for information about yours:

• Your surgeon does not need to see you again in the clinic. If you have any concerns, please arrange to see your GP

• Your surgeon would like to see you in the out-patient clinic in_______________ weeks/months. You will receive an appointment. If you do not receive your appointment within this period, please contact your consultant’s secretary.

Who can I contact for information and advice once I am at home?

• First 24 to 48 hours: you may ring the nursing team on the unit where you had surgery on for advice. They will signpost you to community services such as your GP or NHS 111 if they feel you need to be reviewed.

• After 48 hours: contact your GP or NHS 111.