Surgery Services

Having an operation of any kind can be a frightening experience. It is important for your peace of mind, to have the best staff, equipment and services within the region to support you through the procedure.

Whether for a planned procedure, an outpatient surgery or an emergency operation, Good Shepherd Surgical Services is a Level II Trauma unit and equipped to handle any contingency; with state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated, caring professional support staff. Our 80 surgeons perform over 11,000 procedures annually.

Good Shepherd has many surgical service teams that include Orthopaedics, Neurology, General, Urology, Gynecology, Cardiothoracic, ENT, Plastic, Oral and Eye Surgery.

We run round the clock with 13 operating suites including two suites dedicated to Cardiac surgery. Good Shepherd General Surgery has been awarded HealthGrades Excellence Award in addition to awards achieved for Coronary Intervention, Orthopaedics, Spine and Distinguished Clinical Achievement.

Located just across Marshall Avenue, connected by an air-conditioned sky bridge to Good Shepherd Medical Center is the Good Shepherd Ambulatory Surgical Center, a freestanding, independent Surgical Center. This 45,700 square foot Center welcomes patients and their family members into a beautiful, relaxing waiting area with seating for 80. Features of the center include 25 pre-operative surgery stations, eight surgical suites, a 30-bed Recovery area, two fluoroscopy suites connected digitally to Good Shepherd’s Medical Imaging department, nine gastroenterology suites and a pain management suite. The Ambulatory Surgical Center can help patients find doctors to meet their needs in both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Good Shepherd Ambulatory Surgical Center is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care in a comfortable atmosphere.

As with any type of surgery, there are certain preparations that need to take place. Determining what preparations are necessary will depend on what type of surgery that will be performed and the type of anesthesia that will be administered.

Click here to view a map of the hospital’s first floor.

The following are considerations for you to discuss with your physician/surgeon prior to your procedure:

Ask the surgeon to explain the benefits, risks, and expectations of the procedure.
Discuss what type of anesthesia will be administered and what recovery time is expected.
Inform your physician of any medications (over-the-counter or prescription) you are currently taking, as well as any prior procedures, history of chronic illnesses, and/or allergies you may have.
Be sure to discuss any post-operative instructions that need to be followed (i.e., changing dressings, post-op medications, follow-up appointments).
Be sure to arrange all insurance coverage prior to surgery, as many insurance carriers do not cover many types of plastic surgery procedures (particularly cosmetic procedures).
Be sure to arrange a ride home after your procedure.

Before your surgery:

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your surgery unless specifically directed by your physician. This includes gum, mints, water or chewing tobacco.
Medications for blood pressure, seizures, heart or asthma can be taken with a sip of water the morning of surgery.
Diabetic patients should check with their surgeons before taking diabetic medications the morning of surgery.

Arriving for surgery:

Enter through the Medical Center’s Main Lobby Entrance, turn left and proceed to the Heart Center’s Information Desk for registration.
Plan to arrive two hours before the scheduled surgery time to allow for proper pre-surgical preparation.
Wear comfortable clothing, and leave all personal valuables such as watches, rings, etc., at home. You may wear glasses, dentures, or contact lenses, but these items should be removed and kept by family member during surgery.

Good Shepherd Medical Center cannot be responsible for loss of valuables.

After your surgery:

Your physician and nurses will advise you of any special instructions to follow once at home.
Eat a mild liquid diet for the first six hours, and then you may proceed to light solid foods.
Do not drive an automobile, operate machinery or drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours.
Take only medications prescribed or recommended by your physician.
It is very important that you arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after discharge from Good Shepherd.

Children’s Surgery:

In addition to the information on what to do before, on the day of and after surgery, children have special needs. To help your child feel more comfortable with the surroundings, it is acceptable to bring a special blanket and / or stuffed animal to the Same Day Surgery area. Your child will be allowed to keep the item in the holding room and on the trip to the Operating Room. The item will be labeled, and your child will awaken with the special item at his or her side.

The Day of Surgery / Getting Ready For Surgery / The Operating Room

What to expect the day of surgery:

On the day of surgery, you will meet with the medical team involved in your surgery. This may include your surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and various other healthcare professionals.

Getting ready for surgery:

You may expect some of the following to occur:

You may need to change into a hospital gown.
You will receive an identification bracelet.
An intravenous line may be inserted in your forearm for anesthetics and other medications.
You will be transported on a stretcher to the operating room.

What does the operating room look like?

The operating room can be an intimidating place, with a lot of unfamiliar technical equipment. The following is a brief list of equipment you may see in the operating room. However, each operating room varies depending on the type of surgery being performed.

The operating table in the center of the room can be raised, lowered, and tilted in any direction.
The operating lamp allows for brilliant illumination without shadows during surgery.
You may be connected to various monitors that keep track your vital signs, such as your heart rate and blood pressure.
A ventilator or breathing machine stands by the head of the operating table. The ventilator will breathe for you during the procedure by moving oxygen and air in and out of your lungs.
Sterile instruments to be used during surgery are arranged on a stainless steel table.
A diathermy machine, to control bleeding, usually is present.
If the surgery requires it, a heart-lung machine, or other specialized equipment, may be brought into the room.

Methods of Surgery

What are the different methods of surgery?

With technical advances today, surgery does not necessarily mean large incisions, as in the past. Depending on the type of surgery, there are several surgery methods that may be performed:

Open surgery – an “open” surgery means the cutting of skin and tissues so that the surgeon has a full view of the structures or organs involved. Examples of open surgery are the removal of the organs, such as the gallbladder or kidneys.
Minimally invasive surgery – minimally invasive surgery is any technique involved in surgery that does not require a large incision. This relatively new approach allows the patient to recuperate faster with less pain. Not all conditions are suitable for minimally invasive surgery.

Many surgery techniques now fall under minimally invasive surgery:

Laparoscopy – a test that uses a tube with a light and a camera lens at the end (laparoscope) to examine organs and check for abnormalities. Laparoscopy is often used during surgery to look inside the body and avoid making large incisions. Tissue samples may also be taken for examination and testing.
Endoscopy – a test that uses a small, flexible tube with a light and a camera lens at the end (endoscope) to examine the inside of part of the digestive tract. Tissue samples from inside the digestive tract may also be taken for examination and testing.
Arthroscopy – with the use of an endoscope, surgeons can look at the interior of a joint. This technique is most often used to inspect the inside of the knee joint.
Bronchoscopy – the examination of the bronchi (the main airways of the lungs) using a flexible tube (bronchoscope). Bronchoscopy helps to evaluate and diagnose lung problems, assess blockages, obtain samples of tissue and/or fluid, and/or to help remove a foreign body.
Cystoscopy – inserting a viewing tube up the urethra to examine the urethra and bladder cavity.
Gastroscopy – examining the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine with a long viewing tube.
Hysteroscopy – a visual inspection of the cervical canal and uterine cavity with an endoscope.
Laryngoscopy – inspecting the larynx (voice box) with a mirror or viewing tube.
Sigmoidoscopy – examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon with a viewing tube.

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