Our surgeons are supported by anesthesiologists, highly-skilled nurses and technicians, and advanced technology. Shore's team of anesthesiologists uses advanced techniques and equipment to administer up-to-date general, regional and local anesthetics.

Same Day Surgery

Shore Medical Center performs more same-day surgeries than any other area hospital. Our hospital-based SurgiCenter offers you and your family safety, convenience, privacy and peace-of-mind; with access to the full resources of the hospital should you need them.

For privacy and comfort, you and your family are provided with your own private patient area before and after surgery. A friendly personal escort guides you and your family to and from the Surgical Reception area. Types of procedures performed on a same-day basis include:

• Biopsies
• Carpal tunnel releases
• Cataracts
• Hernia repairs
• Hysteroscopies and D&Cs
• Myringotomy, ear tubes
• Oral surgery
• Endoscopic procedures
• Laparoscopic procedures including gall bladder surgery
• Laser procedures
• Microsurgical surgery
• Arthroscopic surgery

Prepare for Same Day Surgery - the day of your surgery:

• Remove all jewelry and body piercings. Leave all valuables at home.
• Bring your insurance cards, co-pays and your driver's license or another valid form of identification.
• Arrive at the hospital at your predetermined time. Stop by the lobby desk where you will be escorted to the surgical area.
• You will be asked to leave your family for a brief period while the registrar and nurse review your personal health information.
• Once registered, you will be escorted to a room in which to change.
• Your family may stay with you until you are taken to the operating room.
• During your surgery, your family will wait for the doctor in the waiting room where our volunteers will keep them informed and comfortable
• Once in the recovery room, the nurses will monitor your vital signs, give you pain medications as needed to keep you comfortable and review your instructions before discharge to home.

When returning home:

• Once you have had something to drink and are dressed for home, you will be escorted by wheelchair to your ride.
• Please be sure to make arrangements to have someone at home to stay with you overnight.
• If you have any post-surgery questions, please contact your doctor.

da Vinci Xi Surgical Robotic System

At Shore Medical Center, our skilled surgeons use the da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot System for certain procedures to provide patients a minimally invasive surgical option. This state-of-the-art technology offers multiple advantages such as a smaller incision site, a shortened hospital stay, expedited recovery time, and pain mitigation, oftentimes eliminating the need for narcotics post op. 

The robot does not replace your surgeon, it enhances them. Think of the robot as another set of hands and another pair of eyes for your surgeon, while in the operating room. The surgeon uses hand-held tools, giving them a magnified view of the incision area and a greater range of motion. Advancements in the robot include a built-in tremor-filtration technology to ensure each move has smooth precision, extending skills beyond what the human body allows. 

The da Vinci Surgical Robot System is used at Shore across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures such as colorectal surgery, general surgery, gynecological oncology surgery, gynecological surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, pediatric general surgery, and urological surgery. 

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Surgeons at Shore Medical Center are highly skilled in the latest techniques for surgery that do not require large incisions. These procedures enhance patient comfort and may reduce recovery time by minimizing the size of the surgical incision and the disruption of other surrounding muscle and tissue.

With advances in instrumentation, implant design and surgical technique, Shore’s physicians are focused on ways to help reduce recovery time and improve comfort after the operation.

Computer Assisted Surgery

Continuing to set the pace in our region for providing area residents with the most up-to-date health care technology, Shore Medical Center’s board certified surgeons use the StealthNavigatorTM Program for computer-assisted surgical (CAS) procedures. Computer-assisted surgery has revolutionized traditional surgical techniques by allowing surgeons to navigate through the body using computer-generated three-dimensional  images.

The StealthNavigator enables surgeons to look inside a patient and see everything in precise, 3D detail — a lobe of the brain, the twisting passageway of nasal cavities, the structure of a vertebra. Computer-assisted surgical procedures can be substantially less invasive, target a precise area and avoid healthy tissue, as well as allow for smaller incisions and less tissue dissection, which translates into speedier recoveries and better results for our patients.

Anesthesia Patient Education

General Anesthesia involves making the patient unconscious using intravenous drugs and inhalational agents such as nitrous oxide, oxygen, and anesthetic gases. This may involve the use of a breathing tube, which is inserted into the windpipe to ensure proper breathing while the patient is under anesthesia.

Regional Anesthesia produces numbness in the area of surgery and is performed by the anesthesia clinician.

Methods of administration include:

• Nerve Block - Local anesthesia is injected near the major nerves surrounding the area of surgery.
• Intravenous regional - Local anesthesia is injected into a vein in the arm or leg and then retained in the area through constriction from a tourniquet.
• Local - Local anesthesia is injected into and around the area of surgery.
• Spinal - Local anesthesia is injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord in the back.
• Epidural/Caudal - Local anesthesia is injected in the epidural space directly outside the spinal canal.

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) involves local anesthesia verve blocks administered by the surgeon while the anesthesia clinician monitors sedatives. Unlike general anesthesia, the patient maintains their heart/lung functions without the direct support of the anesthesia provider.

Questions to ask your anesthesia clinician

• Who will provide my anesthesia during the procedure, and what are their qualifications?
• How will I be monitored?
• How will I be made comfortable during and after the procedure?
• Will I have an IV?
• What happens if there is an emergency?
• When can I go home?
• Who can I call with questions after the procedure?:

What to expect before surgery
Prior to your surgical procedure, you  will undergo a preoperative evaluation. This evaluation focuses on your health and choosing an anesthetic plan that is right for you and your procedure. This can include the following:

• A review of your medical history, including medications you are taking and allergies to medications.
• A physical examination
• Blood and lab tests
• EKGs or X-rays

Please note that you will not be able to eat or drink for some period of time prior to your procedure.

What to expect during surgery
During surgery, you will be provided with comprehensive anesthesia care, as it relates to both the anesthetic plan defined before the surgery and the type of procedure, This can include the following:

• Administration and regulation of the anesthetic to ensure you are comfortable and sedated until the procedure is complete.
• Management of your body functions during the procedure, such as heart rate and blood pressure.
• Management of your medical and chronic conditions as they relate to anesthesia care during the procedure.

Depending on the type of procedure, you may be in an unconscious state during the procedure, as in the case of general anesthesia, have a sedative administered or remain awake. It is the responsibility of the anesthesia clinician to keep you comfortable and to control pain no matter what kind of procedure you are having.

What to expect after surgery
After your procedure, and anesthesia clinician will reverse the effects of the anesthetic medications you received and the return you to a conscious state. You will then be taken to a recovery room for monitoring. The anesthesia clinician will check your activity level, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness. They will also assist to control any post-operative pain you may be experiencing.

Anesthesia Clinicians
Anesthesiologist - An anesthesiologist is a Medical Doctor (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) who specializes in the field of anesthesiology. It is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist to provide the anesthetic for the patient during a surgical or clinical procedure.

CRNA - A certified registered nurse anesthetist is an anesthesia professional who provides anesthesia care before, during and after a surgical or clinical procedure. CRNA responsibilities may include the following, depending on expertise and practice location:

• Performing an assessment and evaluation or the patient before the procedure.
• Developing the anesthetic plan for the patient
• Initiating the anesthetic used for the procedure
• Monitoring the patient's life functions during the procedure
• Facilitating the patient's emergence and recovery from anesthesia and providing post-anesthesia care

Anesthesiologist Assistant - An anesthesiologist assistant works under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist to provide anesthesia care before, during and after a surgical or clinical procedure. Their responsibilities include supporting the anesthesiologist in the areas of:

• Pre-anesthetic health history
• Pre-operative physical exams
• Monitoring life functions during the procedure
• Administering medications
• Executing anesthetics as delegated by the anesthesia clinician

Pain Management

Pain Management
"Pain is whatever the patient says it is and exists whenever the patient says it does."

Understanding Pain
Pain can cause phsycial, emotional, and psychological stress on the body. It may vary from one person to the next, and it has the potential to interfere with daily life activities. This information can help you gain knowledge, encourgaement, and tools needed to help control pain while in the hopsital. 

Medication Facts
A variety of medications are available for managing and relieving pain. These may come in various forms and are received through different routes. It is important to talk to your doctor or nurse about options for your pain relief along with any questions or concerns. 

• P.R.N.  is an abbreviation meaning "when necessary." P.R.N. medications are not given unless you ask for them directly from your doctor or nurse. 
• Medications may cause side effects such as constipation, nausea, or drowsiness. It is helpful to always speak to your doctor or nurse about all medications. 
• It is encouraged to seek out pain relieving measures before the pain gets too severe. 

Patients React Differently to Pain
Pain feels different from one person to the next. You will often be asked questions about your pain. It is encouraged to report pain to your doctor and ask for pain relief when needed. You will be taught to use a pain rating scale (shown on back) so nurses can better manage your pain. Complete relief of pain may not always be possible, but it can be managed effectively to a tolerable level. 

Your Right to Pain Control
You have the right to have your pain addressed and to participate in your pain management. You have the right to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedures. Your right to pain control is included in the "Patient Bill of Rights." You should expect the following:

• Information about your pain and pain relief measures.
• Concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management.
• Regular assessment of your pain.
• Access to pain medication as scheduled or when requested as P.R.N. protocol.
• Access to multiple pain treatments therapies. 

Integrative Medicine
Non-Drug Treatments Shore Medical Center offers:

• Aromatherapy
• Guided Imagery
• Massage Therapy
• Reiki and Healing Touch
• Slow Relaxed Breathing
• Pet Therapy
• Laughter
• Applications of Heat and Cold
• Reduction of Environmental Stimuli
• Repositioning
• Diversionary Activities
• Social Worker
• Religion/Spiritual Leaders

Relaxation Response Benefits
All of these interventions help elicit the Relaxation Response with these physical benefits:

• Reduce blood pressure
• Accelerate physical healing
• Increase endorphin levels
• Boost the immune system
• Stimulate digestion
• Augment pain management
• Help regulate body temperature
• Equalize brain wave activity
• Ease the process of childbirth
• Can induce sleep 
• Reduce body and muscke tension
• Relieve anxiety and stress
• Stimulate memories and aid mental focus
• Provide a release of emotions and grieving
• Provide time for contemplation 

Rate Your Physical Pain

• 0 - No Pain
• 1 -Very minor annoyance - occasioanl minor twinges
• 2 -Very minor annoyance-occasional strong twinges 
• 3 -Annoying enough to be distracting 
• 4 -Can be ignored, but distraction is increasing 
• 5 -Cant be ignored for more than 30 minutes 
• 6 -Pain is stready, increasingly distracting 
• 7 -Pain cant be ignored for any length of time 
• 8 -Interferes with sleep and normal function 
• 9 -Physical activity is severely limited 
• 10 -Overwhelming pain, crying, moaning 

Rate Your Emotional Pain

• 0 -No stress, calm and peaceful 
• 1 -Very minor distress, not completely calm
• 2 -Faint tension, faint distress
• 3 -Increasing mild distress
• 4 -Steadily increasing distress, mildly agitated 
• 5 -Distressed, agitated 
• 6 -Very distressed, distracted, and agitated 
• 7 -Severe emotional pain, cant be ignored 
• 8 -Interferes with sleep and normal function 
• 9 -Almost unbearable emotional pain 
• 10 -Overwhelming emotional pain