What to Expect

Before Surgery

Meeting With Doctors

  • Plan to meet with your hematologist and HTC team before the surgery
  • The hematologist will likely ask you to talk with more surgeons—a great chance to learn as much as possible
  • Bring a caregiver to meet with the surgeon and hematologist to listen, ask questions, and gain a better understanding about what will happen during the procedure
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Assessments

The HTC team and the surgeon may conduct the following assessments prior to surgery:

  • Testing to determine the current FVII level
  • Testing to determine the potential for thrombosis
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Instructions

The best thing you can do to prepare for surgery is to follow the instructions of your treatment and surgery team, which could include the hematologist, surgeon, nurse, physical therapist, and social worker.

The team will provide clear instructions on what to eat, what to drink, what medicines to take, how much exercise or activity should done, and where to go on the day of surgery.

Here are some tips if you are getting ready for surgery:

  • Medicines—Provide doctors with a complete list of medicines, vitamins, and supplements you may be taking.
  • Smoking—Smoking can limit the body's ability to heal and can lead to complications, so if you smoke, you should seriously consider quitting.
  • Get ready to come home—The recovery at home may require special adjustments because movement may be limited. Think ahead about sleeping arrangements, groceries, and bathing.
  • The night before surgery—The doctor provides strict instructions about what foods and drinks can be consumed before surgery. It is important to follow these instructions.
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During Surgery

The surgical-treatment team will be relying on their experience and years of medical training to ensure a safe, successful operation. The surgeon and hematologist will have a plan in place for managing bleeding during surgery. The surgeon will have worked closely with the entire surgical team, especially the anesthesiologist, to make sure everything goes as planned.

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After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, you will be moved to a recovery area where a nurse and the anesthesiologist will monitor blood pressure, breathing, and other vital signs. As the anesthesia wears off, the nurse may try to assess your level of pain. It's natural for surgical patients to experience blurry vision, dry mouth, or the chills during this first hour of recovery.

During this time, the surgeon will talk to your family or caregiver to let them know your status.

After you have been cleared from postoperative recovery, you will be moved to your room in the hospital. There, your recovery will be monitored by nurses and nurse assistants, who will help keep you as comfortable as possible. The surgeon will receive updates on your recovery and check in on you to evaluate how the surgical site is healing.

The staff will seek to get you active as quickly as possible to promote healing and avoid postsurgical complications.

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