Approximately two days before your surgery, you will receive a phone call from a staff member who will review your preoperative instructions with you and will provide you with your arrival time. It is important that you follow your preoperative instructions carefully. 
If you have not received a call by 2:00 PM on the day before your surgery, please call the office.

In general, you should allow approximately an hour for a cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, or vasectomy. 
Procedures requiring anesthesia may require up to a four hour stay; however, this is dependent on your procedure type and how you, individually, recover from the effects of anesthesia.

You’ll be greeted in the service and reception area. Our receptionist will verify your information and will alert the nursing staff of your arrival. You will then be assisted to change into a hospital gown, robe, and slipper socks. Your vital signs will be checked by one of our nurses prior to your procedure. Our team will ensure you are educated about your procedure in the plan for your care and your consent for treatment will be obtained along with a review of your current medications and health history. Your provider may order additional testing (lab work, X-ray’s) to be done at this time as well.

If you are having anesthesia, an IV will be started and you will meet with an anesthesia provider prior to your procedure to discuss your anesthesia plan of care.

You’ll be assisted to one of our operating rooms where a qualified surgical team will care for you during your procedure. Prior to starting your procedure, our team will conduct a “time out” to verify the correct patient, planned procedure, and discuss any important items for your care. Depending on your plan procedure, you may have a physician, and advanced practice providers, registered nurses, surgical technologists, and/or radiology technicians present during your procedure.

Depending on your surgery and the type of anesthesia you received, you may remain in bed for a short time, move directly to a recliner, or change clothes and be dismissed. Family members are generally allowed in the recovery area, however, patient safety is our priority, so visitors are at the discretion of the nurse and care team.

Patients will be monitored to ensure their safety. Recovery time can vary for each patient. For your safety, after receiving sedating medications or anesthesia, you must have someone home with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure.

You can still come for your appointment. You might be asked to remove feminine products before your procedure.

Our provider will review your specific testing and the anticipated wait time for results with you. In general, a plan of care can be established following a cystoscopy. However, there are times when the results of the additional testing (labs or bladder biopsy) may affect the next plan of action.  In general, if you haven’t received results within 14 days, please call our office.

For patients receiving anesthesia, it is very important that you follow the instructions provided to you by our nurse regarding eating and drinking. If you have food or liquid in your stomach at the time you receive anesthesia, there is an increased risk of vomiting with potential for aspirating stomach contents back into your lungs. Failure to follow the instructions for eating and drinking may result in cancellation and rescheduling of your procedure.

After your procedure, specific instructions for eating and drinking will be provided to you. During your recovery time, you will be offered light snacks and something to drink. In general, you may resume eating at your discretion.  We recommend starting with light, non-greasy foods, such as toast, applesauce, or soup, to prevent nausea and/or vomiting in the hours following anesthesia.

If your procedure is scheduled without anesthesia, medications will be topically applied or used to numb your surgical area and minimize the discomfort of the procedure. In some situations, your provider may also prescribe oral medications to help you relax prior to the procedure. If you receive an oral sedating medication, you’ll be required to have someone drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours following your procedure.
If you receive moderate or IV sedation, your anesthesia provider will be at your side adjusting medication to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the procedure.

General anesthesia patients are completely sedated and monitored by an anesthesia provider during the procedure.

During your procedure, your surgeon may use equipment that uses electricity. If you have jewelry on, there is a risk that the electricity could be drawn to your jewelry and could cause a burn. For this reason, we ask that you leave all jewelry at home.

Depending on your procedure and overall health, you may need preoperative testing and/or an appointment with a primary provider to ensure that you are healthy and safe to undergo a procedure. This will be determined by your surgeon and anesthesiologist before the surgery.

If you’re having general anesthesia, we will request that you remove your dentures just prior to going into the operating room. They will be given back to you as soon as you’re awake. This is due to the possibility of bending of breaking during your procedure when you will not be able to protect the dentures. If you’re having only topical anesthesia, you may keep your dentures in place.

We do advise that you have someone available to drive you in some cases. If you’re receiving general or moderate/IV anesthesia or if you take sedating medication, you must have a driver for your safety. For procedures that are scheduled without anesthesia (Cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, vasectomy), you may drive yourself as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

Minor/pediatric patients are required to have a responsible adult in the center with them at all times.

We do request that, whenever possible, your escort remain at the center until you’re ready to leave. It is acceptable if they have a short errand to make and will return immediately prior to your being ready for discharge. If your driver leaves the center, we must have a phone number to reach them.

Your ability to return to work will be determined by your surgeon. You are encouraged to discuss this with your surgeon at your appointment. If needed, a release can be provided to you for the day of the procedure, and FMLA/disability forms can be completed by clinic personnel. There’s a nominal fee for this, and it may take up to one week for completion.