Everyone's Guide to Outpatient Surgery

Surgery can be scary. But Macho and Cable (a coauthor of Everyone's Guide to Cancer Treatment) take the mystery out of what happens when one is under the knife. Writing clearly and simply, and with helpful black-and-white illustrations, they explain why outpatient procedures-less costly, available advanced surgical techniques, smaller incisions, improved anesthetics, and better pain-control options-have replaced many hospital stays. But this also means that patients must take a more active role in decision-making and follow-up care. For starters, the authors suggest that people facing surgery get more than one opinion, ask the surgeon if the procedure is necessary and what alternatives may be available, and how long he or she has been performing that particular operation. Especially well written and reassuring is a chapter on anesthesia, which includes information about available drugs and the monitoring equipment an anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse-anesthetist uses for patient safety and comfort during the procedure. They also discuss typical side-effects of surgery, the signs when something's going amiss and what to expect during recovery. This is must reading for anyone whose doctor is recommending outpatient surgery-and for family and friends who may need to help out as a patient recuperates. (Oct).