Surgery
From preparation to recovery, you’ll find everything you need for high-quality surgical care at UNC Health Johnston. Trust our friendly staff to treat you like family, answer your questions, and help you feel confident in your treatment plan.
Surgical Team
Expect support from a team of surgical professionals, including:
- Surgeon who performs your procedure
- Anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist who prevents pain during surgery by providing appropriate medications and anesthesia
- Specially trained operating room nurses
- Nurses with certification in basic and advanced life support
- Certified operating room technicians who assist surgeons during procedures
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Your surgeon will perform your procedure in the least invasive way possible, sometimes using UNC Health Johnston’s advanced technology:
- Computer-assisted navigation, which provides clear, detailed views of the inside your body and guides the surgical tools
- Da Vinci surgical robot, which allows for more surgical precision, so it’s less invasive
These tools allow your surgeon to treat your condition through only a few tiny incisions, so you recover faster with less scarring and less postoperative pain.
Same-Day Surgery
If you have an outpatient procedure, you’ll leave the hospital the same day as surgery. You can recover at home, where you feel more comfortable, and with reduced hospital cost.
Ensuring Your Safety
Just before your procedure, your surgical team members complete a thorough safety checklist. They review your allergies, measure your vital signs, check your medical history, and prepare you for your surgical procedure.
Right after surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room and monitored by a nurse as you wake up from sedation or anesthesia. Then, your surgical team will help you prepare to go home, giving you instructions and any medications you’ll need to make a safe and full recovery.
Anesthesia
Whenever possible, you’ll receive regional anesthesia rather than general anesthesia for the safest pain relief during and after surgery. Regional anesthesia leads to a faster recovery and less pain at the operative site immediately following surgery.
Managing Postsurgical Pain
You’ll likely receive medication to reduce pain after surgery. Your nurse can provide you education and additional pain-relief options, such as warm blankets, cool compresses, and ways to position yourself that ease pressure on the surgical wound.
Surgical Specialties
Learn more about UNC Health Johnston’s expert care during:
