After Surgery

You will probably be in the Neuro-Critical Care Unit (NCCU) overnight, located on the seventh floor of the Meyer building.

After surgery, patients recover in the Neuro-Critical
Care Unit

You will have IV’s and a heart monitor on as well as a catheter in your bladder. A loose-fitting mask may be placed over your mouth, which will deliver oxygen. You will also have a gauze dressing on your head for a day or two.

When you leave the NCCU, you will go to one of the neurosurgery nursing units located on either the eighth or ninth floor of the Meyer building. A typical hospital stay is three or four days. A postoperative MRI or CT scan will be performed the day after surgery.

You should not experience a lot of pain after surgery. Most people take Tylenol for minor discomfort. Let your nurse know if you have any pain or headaches and your medications can be changed, if necessary.

We expect that you will be out of bed eating and taking short walks starting the day after surgery. Once you are eating and drinking normally, the IVs will be removed from your arm. The nurses will keep track of what you eat and drink, as well as how much you urinate. You may be told to drink less than usual for a few days.

You can bring some comfortable clothes (e.g., a bathrobe) to wear after surgery.

After you are released from the hospital, please call your surgeons office to make a postoperative appointment.

Postoperative Visit

Staples or stitches will be removed about one week after surgery. In some cases, they will need to stay in for two weeks. Please call your neurosurgeon’s office to schedule this.

You may shampoo your hair two days after surgery, even if you have stapes or stitches in. Once they are removed, however, please wait 24 hours to shampoo. Once you are able to wash your hair, please use a mild baby shampoo.