George Isaac Minimally Invasive Surgery Center

Health Science Campus • The University of Toledo Medical Center
3000 Arlington Avenue • Phone: 419.383.4000 •  utmc.webmaster@utoledo.edu
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Guide to Outpatient Surgery

Thank you for trusting your health care to University Medical Center’s George Isaac Minimally Invasive Surgery Center. Your procedure will be safely performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to recover in the comfort of your own home.

The following information is provided to help you become familiar with guidelines for before and after surgery that will help you prepare for surgery. At University Medical Center, we believe that more educated patients make better patients.

Preoperative Evaluation   

Before surgery day, you might need to visit our preoperative evaluation center (PEC). There you will meet with a health-care professional who will review your medical history, discuss any medications and in some cases expedite preoperative tests.

What to expect:
Allow one hour for your preoperative interview.
You may be asked to participate in the following during your evaluation:
  • Meet with an anesthesiologist
  • Undergo preoperative testing
Occasionally patients are asked to abstain from foods and liquids before testing. Your physician will provide personalized instructions just for you.

To ensure that your preoperative evaluation is as convenient and as beneficial as possible, please bring with you a complete list of all medications you are taking (you may bring your medication bottles if you prefer), including any vitamin, herbal or nutritional supplements.  You will be asked about allergies as well.  Finally, bring any other information concerning your surgery.

Before your Surgery   

  • Follow instructions provided by your health care provider to prevent a postponed or canceled procedure.
  • Notify your physician immediately if you develop any cold or other illness symptoms.
  • Refrain from alcoholic beverages or smoking the night before and the day of your surgery to avoid complications with anesthesia. Refrain also from mints and gum chewing the morning of the surgery.

For General Anesthetic    

  • Do not eat anything after 7 p.m.
  • Do not drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure, unless your anesthesiologist has given other instructions.
Unless you are advised otherwise, please arrive at the center ninety minutes before your scheduled procedure time.

Please note: To ensure the safety of our patients, we do not allow a taxi driver to be responsible for transporting a patient after a procedure. If you are taking a taxi home, another adult must be with you. We require an adult to come with you, remain in the center while you’re in surgery and transport you home postoperatively.

For Local Anesthetic   

A local anesthetic means the patient will remain awake during a procedure – it involves “numbing” the area which will be affected.

For IV Sedation, MAC (monitored anesthesia care)   

Intravenous therapy (IV) with sedation helps patients relax during a procedure, while patients remain awake. Please plan for the following:

Unless you are advised otherwise, please arrive at the center ninety minutes before your scheduled procedure time.
Arrange to have an adult bring you to The Outpatient Surgery Center and remain in our waiting area during your procedure. This person will need to drive you home following your procedure.

Please note: To ensure the safety of our patients, we do not allow a taxi driver to be responsible for transporting a patient after a procedure. If you are taking a taxi home, another adult must be with you. We require an adult to come with you, remain in the center while you’re in surgery and transport you home postoperatively.

What to Expect the day of your Outpatient Surgery   

On the day of your procedure, please:
  • Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking as well as a list of allergies.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing that will be easy to put on and can be stored in a locker.
  • Do not wear nail polish or makeup.
  • You may wear dentures, but they may need to be removed during your procedure.
  • Leave all jewelry at home.
  • While brushing your teeth the morning of your procedure, please be careful to not swallow any water.
  • Shower or bathe the morning of your procedure using any bactericidal soap which may have been provided.
Reception area: After a valet has your keys and leaves to park your car, you will enter the center to be greeted by a volunteer who will help you to the registration area. During your procedure, your family will be asked to wait in this area, which has coffee, television and a restroom. Family members are asked to remain in the waiting area while you are in surgery and to notify a staff member if they temporarily leave.

Admitting: You will be escorted to the prep area, where you will be given your own locker to store belongings during your procedure. You will proceed to a private prep room to be prepared for your procedure on a special stretcher where you will remain through recovery. Vital signs are recorded and any medications ordered by your surgeon will be administered. Family members may visit with you before you go back for the procedure.

Operating suites: There are four state-of-the-art operating suites at the center. When you are ready to proceed to surgery, family members will be escorted back to the reception area.

Recovery: After your procedure, you will be brought to a private recovery room. The length of recovery time may vary for each patient. Family members will be able to join you once you are awake. If you are given a general anesthetic, you will stay until able to be safely discharged home by a licensed independent practitioner.

Do not be concerned if there is a delay before someone can visit you in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). This decision is made with your ultimate care in mind.

 The licensed independent practitioner determines when you are ready to go home. If you were given a general anesthetic, a family member should stay at home with you for at least 24 hours or be available by phone.

Your physician may give you a prescription for medications to begin taking that day. For your convenience, University Medical Center’s outpatient pharmacy is located on the ground floor of the hospital building. You may have your prescription filled before you leave.

Patient Satisfaction is our Goal   

The staff at the George Isaac Minimally Invasive Surgery Center strives to provide patient-centered, university-quality medical care. To this end, many of our patients receive a survey in the mail. If you would “definitely recommend” our facility to friends and family, please let us know! If you have suggestions that would improve our services, please share those as well.