Babka Surgery Center

Pre-admission testing is an important step before any surgical procedure. The nurse will review your doctor's orders, lab test, X-rays and complete a full health history. Pre-admission testing is also a time to get any of your questions answered before surgery. At this appointment, you will receive a folder highlighting any special instructions, important phone numbers and other need to know information.

The Babka Outpatient Center is where you start your surgical experience by being prepped for surgery. Depending on the procedure you may have an IV started, meet with anesthesia or receive pre-operative medications. Your surgical site will be verified and prepped for surgery. One or two family members may be with you in your room.

There are eight state-of-the-art operating suites. These consist of eight general operating rooms and two special procedure rooms, located on the hospital's second floor. Within the suites, your surgical team may include nurses, certified operating room (OR) techs, anesthesia personnel, patient centered care techs and other support staff. The OR care team will work directly with the surgeon to provide you with your surgical care.

Family members are invited to wait in the surgical waiting area, located adjacent to the Babka Outpatient Center. A computer board in the waiting area tracks each patient through the surgical process with a case number and color-coded system. Pagers are available to assist with notification of progress if desired.

Family Waiting Area

An enlarged family waiting area is available in the Babka Surgery Center to enhance your comfort and convenience. This means more quiet seating options for you to choose from while you wait for your loved one, including two consultation rooms that can accommodate 6-8 family members at a time.

The post anesthesia care unit (PACU), also known as the recovery room, is a critical care area where patients receiving anesthesia are transferred after surgery. Patients are monitored with one-on-one care and post-op nursing care is given, including pain control.

Same-day surgery patients will return to the Babka Outpatient Center for additional recovery time and discharge instructions from a nurse. Patients who will be staying in the hospital after surgery will be transferred to a nursing unit to continue the recovery process.

• Vasectomy
• Cataract surgery
• Hysterectomy
• Colonoscopy
• Orthopedic surgery (knee, hip, shoulder)
• Endoscopy
• Ear, Nose and Throat surgery
• Mastectomy or lumpectomy
• Laparoscopy
• Appendectomy
• Bowel or hernia repair
• Gallbladder surgery
• Pancreatic surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Aneurysm repair
• Tumor removal
• Splenectomy

Before surgery, you'll meet with your doctor, discuss risks and benefits, pre-register and complete necessary tests and procedures. This is a great time for you to talk with your care team about any concerns prior to surgery. We will do everything we can to get your questions answered and clarify anything you need.

To prepare for your surgery, a pre-surgical nurse may meet with you or contact you by phone to gather health information and cover pain management. This is your Pre-Admission Testing appointment. At this appointment, you may be asked to have some routine tests and procedures to make sure you are safe to have surgery. Routine tests could include blood or urine tests, an EKG for heart analysis and a chest X-ray. If you have had recent tests, let the pre-surgical nurse know. What you do before surgery can increase your comfort and decrease your stress after surgery.

• Verify your surgery with your insurance.
• Quit smoking or at least cut down before surgery.
• Stop drinking alcohol at least 24 hours before surgery.
• Advise the pre-surgical nurse of any illegal drug use.
• Ask your doctor about taking any medications (including herbal supplements) before surgery.
• Arrange for rides to and from home. If you are having an outpatient procedure, you can go home as soon as you recover, but for your safety, we cannot allow you to drive yourself home.
• If you get a fever, cold or rash, call your doctor. For your safety, we may need to move your surgery to another date.
• Plan for post-surgery needs, such as transportation, home care or skilled care.
• Make changes in your home to make post-surgery life as simple as possible. For example, if your doctor would like you to avoid stairs, you may want to make up your bed on the first floor.
• Prepare food ahead of time and freeze or buy pre-made meals so you can limit the amount of work you have to do after surgery.
• Arrange for friends or relatives to check in on you after surgery. And, let them help you! Often, we try not to burden, but your friends and family can be a great help following surgery.
• Verify your hospital check-in time with your doctor's office.
• Do not wax 48 hours before surgery.

• Shower or bathe with antibacterial soap
• After your shower or bath, do not apply deodorant, makeup, lipstick, nail polish, acrylic nails, lotions, powders, cologne or hair products
• Remove all piercings and contact lenses, if applicable
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing and slip-on shoes
• Leave valuables, such as jewelry (including wedding rings), cash and credit cards at home
• Only take medications directed by your doctor with just a sip of water
• For children, we suggest bringing a favorite blanket, toy or sippy cup to make them feel more comfortable while in the hospital

• Surgery folder, insurance/prescription cards and photo ID
• A parent or legal guardian if patient is younger than 18 years old
• A list of medications that identifies dosage and frequency
• Overnight clothes (if necessary), such as a robe and slippers
• A case with your name on it for personal items you may need to remove, such as dentures, glasses or contact lenses
• A copy of your Advance Directive. An Advance Directive is a written statement that clarifies the medical treatment you would choose if you later become unable to communicate. Your Advance Directive also can name the person you wish to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions.
• CPAP, inhalers and eye drops
• Crutches, walkers, slings or braces, as instructed by your doctor
• Toiletry items (if necessary)

• Bring surgery folder, insurance/prescription cards and photo ID
• Bring crutches, walkers, slings or braces, as instructed by your doctor

When you arrive, you'll sign insurance release forms and an admission consent form, if you haven't done so already. If you are a minor, your parent or guardian will fill these out. To protect your confidentiality and privacy, your friends and family will be asked to briefly wait outside the room.

A team member will guide you to a surgery preparation area, where you'll be able to change into a hospital gown and remove any glasses, hearing aids or dentures.

A team member will go over your health history and have you sign your surgical consent. An intravenous line (IV) will be started, except in surgical cases where local anesthetics are being used. Once you are settled into your admitting room, your friends and family can visit with you. At this time, you will also meet an anesthesia provider to discuss your anesthesia.

You can expect to leave the hospital 1-2 hours after your surgery is completed, depending on your symptoms and pain control, or as directed by your doctor.

Your nurse will share the criteria the surgery has set up for you to be discharged. In most cases, your next surgeon visit will be your follow-up appointment.

Your nurse will review your written instructions and give you a copy to take home. If you have questions about these materials when you get home, please call the hospital, and we will be happy to help explain or clarify.

If your doctor orders medications to be taken at home, you can pick them up in at the hospital's retail pharmacy, located on the third floor.

A team of trained professionals staffs the surgical suite or operating room (OR). Your surgeon heads the team, often assisted by a surgical assistant. A surgical technician sets up the instruments needed for surgery and assists in surgery. A circulating nurse is charged with your care and ensures sterile procedures are used. A member of the health care team will take you to the surgical suite. Your blood pressure, heart function and oxygen level in your blood will be monitored. At this time, the anesthesia provider will administer anesthesia during your procedure.

As a way to get you home sooner, orthopedic surgeons do offer the option for same day total joint replacement surgery. By working with a care team of your surgeon and physical therapists, you may be able to go home the same day as your joint replacement surgery. You and your surgeon will discuss if this option is best for you.

Whether it is carpal tunnel syndrome, a torn rotator cuff or any condition in between, the orthopedic surgery team is prepared to provide patients with the best quality of hand, arm, elbow and shoulder surgery. Our orthopedic teams provide care and guidance before, during and after surgery, giving you a comprehensive surgery experience.

When it's an emergency, you can count on Finley. Our multidisciplinary team consists of the surgery department, emergency department, radiology, laboratory, physical therapy, and others. In an emergency situation, patients receive the full continuum of care.

The CORI Surgical System is an advancement in the way orthopedic surgeons perform partial and total knee replacement. This handheld device works in conjunction with your surgeon's skilled hands to achieve accurate positioning of components during planning and surgery. The benefits of this surgical system include:

• A unique plan: With 3D modeling, you get a surgical plan that's customized to your unique anatomy. This means your surgeon can perform your procedure efficiently and more accurately than traditional knee replacement surgery.
• A natural fit: With a robotics-assisted procedure, your surgeon can help you keep more of your natural bone and ligaments, including the ACL. This means your body can maintain more of its natural rhythm and step.
• A wide selection: Your surgeon is choosing from the widest selection of knee implants. This means your surgeon can choose the implant best suited to you and made from materials that are designed to last.

The VELYS robotic-assisted solution uses a variety of advanced technologies to ensure the surgeon has the information and tools needed to perform a highly accurate and precise knee replacement. This solution is designed to:

• Aid your surgeon by accessing state-of-the-art technology to provide insights for real-time decision making.
• Help your surgeon remove the damaged bone with accuracy. This robotic-assisted device does not move or operate on its own.
• Use an infrared camera and optical trackers to help your surgeon gather the necessary data about your anatomy to achieve a high level of precision.

The da Vinci robot is used in several surgical specialties and conditions including:

• Gynecologic Surgery
• Gallbladder Surgery
• Urologic Surgery

The Ion Endoluminal Robotic Bronchoscopy System is a minimally invasive option for lung biopsies that provides greater stability and precision compared to manual biopsy techniques.

This robotic-assisted surgical tool allows physicians to obtain tissue samples from deep within the lung and potentially diagnose lung cancer earlier. Finley is the first hospital in Dubuque with this robotic technology.

Ion uses an ultra-thin, maneuverable catheter to reach deep into the peripheral lung to locate suspicious nodules. Equipped with a small camera, doctors are able to view the peripheral lung in real-time. Once the suspicious lung nodule is reached, the catheter locks in place and a flexible biopsy needle passes through to collect the tissue biopsy.