What to Expect After Surgery
Center for Perioperative Care
Mass General Wang 3
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Phone: 617-726-8588
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What to Expect for Surgery at Mass General
Watch this video to learn more about how to prepare for surgery and what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
Recovery
After your surgery or procedure, you will be closely monitored by a perioperative nurse as you recover.
During your post-anesthesia care, your nurse will:
- Check your vital signs (temperature and blood pressure)
- Assess and help manage your pain
Same-Day Discharge
If you are being discharged on the same day as your surgery or procedure, most patients spend about two-to-four hours recovering from anesthesia after surgery.
Once you are ready to be discharged, your intravenous line will be removed, and the nurse will review your post-procedure instructions and prescriptions with you and your family or loved ones.
This information will also be available in your Patient Gateway account.
Next-Day Discharge
Patients staying overnight after their procedure will be cared for in a Post Anesthesia Care Unit where our nursing staff will attend to your medical and personal needs as you recover in a private space. We allow one visitor per day; however, we are unable to allow visitors to stay overnight.
Once you are ready to be discharged, your nurse will review your post-procedure instructions and prescriptions with you and your family or loved ones. This information will also be available in your Patient Gateway account.
Extended Hospital Stays
If you stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours after your procedure, you will be moved to one of our inpatient rooms where you will receive similarly attentive and high-quality care. Review our visitor policy.
Filling your Prescriptions
Your surgeon may provide you with a prescription(s) after your surgery and will send it electronically to either your home pharmacy or the Mass General Outpatient Pharmacy on the first floor of the Wang building.
Family members are encouraged to pick up the prescriptions for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can my family member or loved one wait if I am staying in the hospital after surgery?
If you will be recovering in the hospital after surgery, your family member or loved one may wait in the Yawkey Family Waiting Area located on the second floor of the Yawkey building. Volunteers will regularly update them.
Can my family member or loved one visit me while I am in the hospital?
Family members and loved ones are encouraged to review the Massachusetts General Hospital visitor policy before coming to the hospital.
Will I see my doctor after the procedure?
Since you have received anesthetic medications, you will not remember what the surgeon tells you. Therefore, your surgeon will contact and update your family member or loved one after the procedure.
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The expert team at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Perioperative Care (CPC) provides every patient with all of the necessary information to ensure a stress-free and comfortable care experience.