These days, many surgeries are planned in advance. Joint replacements, heart surgeries and catheterizations, and more are usually scheduled beforehand. It may be inpatient surgery that includes at least one night in the hospital. Or it may be outpatient or “same-day” surgery, when patients go home after spending some time in the recovery room.
This guide answers questions you may have thought of and others that may not have occurred to you before. Most are questions best answered before surgery.