Preparing for Surgery
It is my privilege to help take care of you. Please understand that if surgery has been offered, then we must make the decision to proceed together. I take even the most “minor” surgeries very seriously, and only offer surgical intervention when I feel strongly that it is the most reasonable next step in your care. Rest assured that the entire surgical team will work diligently to ensure that the process is as safe for you as possible. However, please understand that problems may sometimes arise and there is no guarantee that your outcome will be exactly as you and your surgeon hope for or expect. Be aware that there are risks involved with every surgical procedure, and, in addition, there may occasionally be unusual and rare problems that arise. General uncommon risks associated with orthopedic surgery include:
- Infection
- Nerve or blood vessel damage (temporary or permanent) that could result in numbness/weakness in your involved extremity
- Lack of improvement after the operative procedure
- Continued, or possibly worse, pain than you had prior to the surgery
- Unexpected bleeding during or after surgery
- Loss of motion in your operated joint or extremity
- Wound healing problems
- Systemic effects (other parts of the body are affected) such as blood sugar control or high blood pressure
- Blood clots in your arms and legs
- Heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, kidney failure
- Anesthetic related problems
- Blood transfusion reactions or disease transmission if blood transfusion is required
- Other unforeseen risks
Remember that most of these complications are extremely rare. Your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nursing teams are trained to make your surgery safe and ensure the best possible outcome. Please be sure to ask any questions you may have; no matter how unimportant or insignificant a question may seem, if it is important to you then it is important to ask!
Warm Regards,
Sean Baran, MD
Patient Forms
- Anesthsia Pre-Op Information
- Pre-OP Guide Rose Medical Center
- Pre-Op Guide Midtown Surgery Center
- Pre-Op Guide St. Joseph Hospital
- Pre-Op Guide Porter Adventist Hospital
- Pre-Op Handout for Total Joint Replacement
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