Danbury Docs Say—

When Surgery Is Needed, Preparation Supports Peace Of Mind

DANBURY — When it comes to surgery, studies have shown that the “be prepared” principle can ease anxiety, reduce a hospital stay, and speed recovery. If an individual or a family member needs to prepare for an operation, learn as much as possible beforehand.

During the past ten years, Danbury Hospital has been “on a journey to transform the scope and quality of our health care services, growing our institution from a very good community teaching hospital to a premier regional health network,” said Keith Zuccala, MD, FACS, interim co-chair, Department of Surgery, and chief, Section of General Surgery at Danbury Hospital, which comprises Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, and their affiliated organizations.

“This transformation can be seen in everything we do, including the many advances in our surgical capabilities,” he said. “We now compete in surgical quality and talent with the best urban medical centers in the Northeast.”

Supporting these advances, the most telling evidence is the number of nationally recognized, board-certified and fellowship-trained surgical subspecialists who have trained at major academic medical centers to join the regional system.

Robotic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and advanced laparoscopy (microsurgery) are also commonly used at Danbury Hospital. Additionally, intra-operative technology is used prevent open surgery, where it is not required, and a highly skilled team provides advanced care for safe and effective anesthesiology and pain management.

John Borruso, MD, FACS, interim co-chair, Department of Surgery, said, “Surgical site infections, which can occur after surgery in the part of the body where surgery took place, are an excellent indicator of an institution’s commitment to quality. We also work to minimize other surgical complications after discharge with meticulous 30-day follow-up to identify potential issues before they become more serious.”

In 2008, 2009, and 2011, Danbury Hospital was recognized by the American College of Surgeons as one of 25 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) hospitals in the United States to achieve “exemplary” outcomes for surgical patient care. Additionally, four endowed chairs support continuing advances in surgical programming and continuing education for physicians — thereby raising the bar on surgical skills and patient outcomes.

Any candidate for surgery is invited to apply the following tips to help defuse stress and approach surgery day with a calm head.

If surgery is suggested, ask your physician these questions:

*What will happen if I decide not to have the surgery?

*Do I have any nonsurgical treatment options?

*What should I expect this procedure to accomplish?

*What are the chances that this will turn out as expected?

*What are the risks?

*What were the outcomes of other patients who underwent the same surgery?

*How will I feel after surgery? Are there any special preparations I should make?

Then, before a procedure:

*Follow instructions about refraining from smoking, eating, and drinking.

*Ask the physician about taking aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs before surgery. (Because they are blood thinners, these medications may cause excessive blood loss.)

*Tell your doctor which prescription and over-the-counter drugs you take, including vitamins and herbal supplements, which can extend the effects of anesthesia or create other complications.

*Patients are typically not allowed to drive after the procedure, so make reliable transportation arrangements.

*Organize your home before surgery. Make sure you have groceries or frozen meals on hand.

*If climbing stairs will be a problem, make sleeping arrangements downstairs.

*Practice relaxation techniques, which will help calm you and speed healing.

Once a patient goes home, a little help from friends can come in handy. If worries about housework or bills are nagging, ask someone to take care of these chores.

In the meantime, relaxation methods used before surgery can also help during recovery.

For information about surgical procedures visit WesternConnecticutHealthNetwork.org or call 800-516-4743.