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You can expect
to be at our center anywhere from 3-4 hours today which will include
all of your pre-operative testing, informed consent, your surgery
and your recovery time. There are five steps involved in your
pre-operative testing. The order of these steps can vary from
patient to patient. Below is a brief description of these steps:
Pre-Operative Testing
1. You will have an ultrasound to determine how far you are in
the pregnancy.
2. You will have your vital signs taken and blood work done to
determine your hemoglobin level (the level of iron in your body)
and whether your blood type carries the Rh factor. If your blood
type is negative you will require a shot of gamulin after your
surgery.
3. We will collect payment if you are paying by cash, credit card
or money order. If paying with insurance please note that we will
need to verify your coverage and benefits, prior to your appointment
with us. We will process your insurance claim for payment.
4. You will meet with a nurse who will discuss your medical history
and discuss birth control options with you.
5. You will meet with a counselor and/or nurse who will discuss
what you can expect in terms of the surgery and what to expect
when you go home. They are here to make you comfortable with whatever
decision you choose to make, answer all of your questions, address
your concerns and are available to make any necessary referrals
if needed.
Your Surgery
and Recovery Time
1. After your
preoperative testing is complete, a staff member will give you
a gown to change into. If you have valuables with you, please
give them to your escort before you change for surgery. Please
be advised that the Rhode Island Medical Center is not responsible
for any belongings lost or stolen.
2. The surgery itself takes approximately 3-5 minutes and you
have the option of having local (awake) or general (asleep) anesthesia
during surgery.
a. LOCAL ANESTHESIA: With the local anesthesia you will be given
an injection of a local anesthetic called Lidocaine to help numb
the cervical area. With the local anesthetic you will be awake
during the procedure and feel and hear what is going on.
b. GENERAL ANESTHESIA: Is administered by an nurse anesthetist.
The anesthetic is fast acting and administered through an IV.
With general anesthesia you will be asleep for your procedure
and will not feel or hear anything.
3. After your surgery you will be taken to the PACU (Post Anesthesia
Care Unit - Recovery Room) where Registered Nurses, specially
trained in post-anesthesia care will monitor your vital signs
and bleeding before you are discharged. Generally, patients remain
in the PACU for 30 minutes if they have had a local anesthetic
and 45 minutes if they have had general anesthesia.
4. After you are discharged from the PACU we will give you your
belongings so you can change into your clothes and offer you something
to eat and drink. We will make sure you have a copy of your post-operative
instructions, any necessary prescriptions and our toll free 24
hour emergency number should you need to reach our facility after
hours.
Please
feel free to ask any questions you have about your care with us
at any time during your stay at the Rhode Island Medical Center.
We are here to make your stay as comfortable as possible and we
appreciate any feedback you might have regarding your visit with
us. Thank you.
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Thank
you for choosing the Rhode Island Medical Center for your surgery
today. We understand that the decision to terminate your pregnancy
can be a difficult one and raise different feelings and emotions.
Our staff is here to support you with any decision you make regarding
your pregnancy. For women who are unsure of their decision regarding
their pregnancy, non-biased options counseling is available with
a trained patient advocate at any time during your visit today.
