The following are frequently asked questions from patients who have been treated at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center.

1. How do I make an appointment at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center?
   Your physician or surgeon will schedule your procedure at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center.
2. How will I be billed for my procedure?
   You will receive a bill for anesthesia professional services. A separate bill for technical charges will include charges for the facility, surgical instruments, supplies and anesthesia equipment and supplies. These bills are separate from any physician's fees, laboratory, EKG, pathology or radiology charges.
3. What kinds of operations are appropriate for ambulatory surgery?
   Thanks to surgical innovations and new types of minimally invasive procedures, the list is growing every day.  In general, procedures with post-operative care that can be easily managed at home and those that have a very low risk of post-operative complications are best suited for ambulatory surgery. 
4. What are the risks of ambulatory surgery?
   For a person who is in overall good health, the risks of ambulatory surgery are very low. Of course, all types of surgery include some degree of risk,  but major incidents, such as a heart attack or neurological injury are extremely rare.  There is also a small risk that a patient may have a reaction to an anesthetic medication, but this is usually prevented by a thorough understanding of the patient's medical history during pre-operative consultation.  And, patients are told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery to prevent a reaction to anesthesia.  However, some patients may still experience nausea, vomiting, headaches or muscle aches, which are all easily manageable.
5. Is ambulatory surgery appropriate for young children?
   In general, children are as potentially appropriate for ambulatory surgery as adults.  The ASC schedules children 4 years or 40 lbs and up for procedures.
6. Is ambulatory surgery appropriate for older individual?
   The anesthesiologist evaluates most older patients to see if they meet the ASC criteria. The Emory Clinic ASC has patients as old as 100 who did well by using the short-acting drugs.
7. What are the different types of anesthesia?
   There are basically three types of anesthesia.  The first is General anesthesia in which the patient is given medication to render unconsciousness during surgery.  Monitored Anesthesia Care, (MAC), also known as twilight sleep, is medication that prevents pain and relaxes the patient but does not cause unconsciousness.  It is administered by the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. Regional anesthesia totally blocks pain from the region of the body where the procedure will be performed.
8. What is the typical recovery period for an ambulatory surgery?
   The average recovery period following an ambulatory surgery procedure is two to three hours in the recovery room, during which the patient is monitored by the department nurses.  Following instructions about care at home, the patient is allowed to leave. 
9. Can I drive myself home after the procedure?
   No. The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center requires that you make definitive arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home.  If you do not have a ride home, your surgery will be canceled.  If you must call for a ride, please bring the phone number where they can be reached in a timely basis.  Your ride must be at the center within two hours from surgery time.  For more information about post operative procedure go to Instructions, Post-Surgery.
10. How long after the procedure can I return to normal activities?
    From an anesthesia point of view, recovery time is approximately 24 hours but total recovery depends on the type of surgery.
    From 24 to 48 hours after your return home from surgery you should refrain from the following: 

DO NOT

• Drive or operate heavy equipment
• Make any critical decisions or sign any important documents
• Drink alcohol or take drugs/medications without the knowledge and consultation of your doctor