First Appointment
Your first appointment at Puget Sound Orthopaedics will begin with taking a detailed medical history and conducting a physical examination.

The history gives your physician an idea about the type of symptoms or pain you you may be experiencing, your past medical and surgical history, and medications that you are taking. We may ask you to schedule a MRI or to bring your X-rays with you.

Treatment
We will first attempt to resolve the problem with a less-invasive, non-surgical approach. If exercises, dietary changes and other non-surgical approaches are not achieving satisfactory results, we will recommend a surgical treatment.

Day of Surgery

• Notify your doctor if you have experienced any health changes (a cold, persistent cough, fever, etc.) since your last visit to schedule this surgery.
• Arrange for transportation to and from the surgery center. For day surgery, if you have general anesthesia or sedation, you will not be allowed to leave alone after surgery. It is imperative that a responsible adult is present to receive discharge instructions, accompany you home, and be with you for 24 hours following surgery.
• Do not smoke for 24 hours before your surgery.
• Eat normally and take your routinely prescribed medications the day and evening before your surgery, unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
• Do not eat of drink anything (including water), and do not chew gum or breath mints after midnight the night before your surgery.
• Take your routine daily medications with a sip of water unless instructed not to do so. Take a bath or shower before coming in the surgery center. Do not wear make-up (including mascara) or nail polish on the day of surgery.
• Wear casual, loose fitting clothing and slip-on shoes for your comfort and ease of dressing after surgery.
• Leave all valuables at home. Do not wear jewelry, watch, or contact lenses.
• Arrive 2 hours prior to your scheduled surgery time to allow time for preparation and a visit from you anesthesiologist.
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After Surgery
After surgery, you will spend time in the Recovery Unit. The average stay in the unit is 1 to 1.5 hours. When you are discharged from this unit, you will be reunited with your family.

Important things to remember:

• Follow your doctor’s orders after surgery.
• Unless instructed otherwise, resume taking routine daily medications.
• If you have received local anesthesia with out sedation, general anesthesia or regional block anesthesia, you must follow these instructions for 24 hours.
  • Do not drive or operate machinery.
  • Do not take public transportation alone.
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
  • Do not sign legal documents.
  • A light diet is recommended.
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Special Instructions for Children
With your help, our nursing and anesthesia staff will make this experience as comfortable as positive as possible for you and your child. Minors having surgery must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign permission forms and to stay at the center while the child is being cared for.

Before Surgery:

Give your minor/ child information about the surgery in a positive way. We are glad to answer any questions you may have. If a tour of the surgery center would help, please call 253-581-6428.

Check with your child’s doctor or call the surgery center for special instructions regarding food, beverages, and routine medications before surgery.

On the Day of Surgery:

• Be sure that your child has an empty stomach (no food or drink). For your child’s safety, surgery could be postponed if this instruction is not followed.
• Bring a bottle if your child uses one for after surgery.
• Dress your child in casual and comfortable clothes.
• Bring your child’s favorite blanket or soft toy. They will be allowed to take this into the operating room.
• One parent is allowed in the recovery room after the child is awake. Please do not bring other children with you.

Items to Bring:
Bring the following items with you to your pre-screening appointment and to the surgery center on the day of your surgery.

• Insurance card(s)
• Co-payment (cash, check, and/or major credit card)
• Driver’s license or picture identification
• Actual bottles of medications, vitamins and/or herbal supplements
• Any paper work from your surgeon’s office.
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