Surgery

In addition to general surgical procedures and emergency surgeries, we offer a wide range of specialized surgical procedures, including:

If you are obese and are struggling to lose weight using diet and exercise, then weight-loss surgery may be for you. We offer several surgical options to make weight loss safe and easy for you, including gastric bypass.

Breast surgery is often the most effective treatment option for the removal of breast cancer. Our breast surgeons are experts in removing malignant tumors and tissues of the breast.

Trident Health System's cardiologists are trained in the latest heart and vascular surgery techniques to treat diseases and disorders of the heart and blood vessels. We use both minimally invasive and open-heart surgeries, depending on the severity of the condition.

Our orthopedic surgeons provide a wide range of orthopedic care for injuries and diseases involving the bones. They can treat back and neck pain, spine disorders and joint problems with procedures that include joint replacement for hips, shoulders and knees.

Summerville Medical Center provides pediatric surgery across a range of subspecialties in kid-friendly environments. Our pediatric team includes fellowship trained, board certified pediatric surgeons dedicated to meeting the unique needs of children.

Trident Health offers robot-assisted surgeries for a variety of procedures. Robotic surgery lets doctors perform complex procedures with precision through a single incision. A surgeon controls a set of mechanical arms with surgical instruments, using a small camera to see the surgery. Robot-assisted surgery offers many potential benefits compared to traditional surgery, including:

• Faster recovery times
• Less blood loss
• Minimal scarring
• Reduced pain and need for post-surgery pain medication

Trident Health offers advanced surgical treatment options to treat a range of gynecological and urogynecological conditions, such as pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. We also provide surgical treatments for conditions that may contribute to a woman’s fertility, such as endometriosis. In addition to traditional gynecologic surgery, we perform minimally invasive robot-assisted surgeries whenever possible.

To help relieve your family's anxiety and stress during your surgery, we have a texting service called Informer. Your family members can receive text updates about your progress during surgery. For more information about our surgery text updates, sign up by using our patient surgery text updates page.

Your surgeon’s office will schedule the date and time of your surgery. You’ll be given materials from your doctor outlining how to prepare for your surgery. During your pre-registration with the surgical team, you’ll be asked for demographic and insurance information. If you have health insurance, we’ll bill your carrier after your visit.

If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll receive a discount for your services. We also have information about our uninsured discount program. Financial counselors are available to help you.

The pre-admission testing process is designed to ensure that you receive the safest and highest quality care from registration to discharge. A PAT team member will contact you soon after your surgery is scheduled to set up your individualized pre-admission testing.

If you are scheduled for a PAT phone interview, please have the following available:

• List of medications (name, dose, frequency)
• Past medical history
• List of previous surgeries and anesthesia
• Information regarding any implanted devices

If you are scheduled for a PAT visit, please bring:

• Health insurance information
• Photo identification (such as a driver’s license)
• List of medications (name, dose, frequency)
• Medical history
• List of previous surgeries and anesthesia
• Copy of any recent test results (such as blood work, EKG, chest X-ray)
• Information regarding any implanted devices such as a pacemaker/defibrillator

Allow about two hours for your registration, PAT interview, and any testing that may be needed.

Please follow your pre-surgery instructions carefully.

Tell your physician about any changes in your physical condition that might affect your procedure. This includes fever, cold, virus and any infections.

• You are required to take a shower with a special soap. You will be given sponges containing the special soap by your surgeon or the hospital. Please shower the evening before and the morning of your surgery using this sponge.
• Do NOT eat or drink anything (including gum or candy) after midnight the night before surgery (unless other specific instructions have been provided by your surgeon or anesthesiologist.)
• Do NOT consume alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your procedure.

You will also receive a courtesy confirmation call before surgery with a final verification of arrival time. Use this opportunity to ask any additional questions.

Your arrival time depends on the type of PAT you have completed and any additional registration or testing required on the surgery day. The PAT staff will let you know when to arrive. On the day of your surgery, we recommend that you:

• Bring your insurance cards, Social Security number and a photo ID
• Bring all medications you are taking
• Bring any items such as crutches, X-rays, etc., that your physician has indicated
• Leave any valuables at home
• Remove makeup, nail polish, hairpins, barrettes, piercings and jewelry

Additionally, please complete any pre-operative lab tests before the day of your surgery. Also, discuss with your surgeon what medications you should and should not take the morning of your surgery.

You will recover from anesthesia in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). During this time, you will be placed on a heart monitor, blood pressure machine and, if needed, oxygen. IV therapy will replace your fluids.

On average, most patients stay about 90 minutes following surgery, depending on the type of procedure.

If you experience any discomfort after surgery, medication will be provided for you. Nurses will frequently assess your comfort.

If you are to be admitted after surgery:

• When you are sufficiently recovered from anesthesia, you will be transferred to your inpatient room.
• Your family and friends will be informed of your room number and can meet you there.
• You'll be introduced to the inpatient nurse who will help you after surgery.

If you are going home after surgery:

• When you are recovered from anesthesia, you will be transferred to the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC), where you will continue to be monitored until discharge.
• Your family or friends will meet you in your ACC room.

The length of your hospital stay depends on your type of surgery. When it is time for discharge, your nurse will provide detailed instructions outlining how to care for yourself at home, assisting you with an easy recovery.

Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving anesthetic medications, we require that a responsible adult accompanies you home from the hospital and stays with you for the day and night following surgery.

You must have an acceptable ride home. Community vans, city buses, etc., are not sufficient forms of transportation due to the patient being under anesthesia's residual effects.

Our policy states that the patient must pay their co-payment and deductible at the time of services. To ensure you will receive quality care in a timely and organized manner, we have furnished a summary of potential financial requirements.

As a courtesy, we will attempt to call you two to three days before your surgery to inform you of your specific obligations. The balance of any charges for previous patient services should be paid in full before your currently scheduled surgery.

To speak with our financial counselors, contact them at (888) 334-3868.

• Your doctor’s office is responsible for acquiring pre-certification numbers before the time of surgery. If this does not happen, you will be held accountable for the bill or your surgery will be rescheduled.
• You will receive a statement until the balance is paid in full, even if the insurance is pending.
• We don't accept letters of protection for such occurrences as worker’s compensation or injury.
• We accept Visa, Mastercard, cash and personal checks.
• Please be aware that you will receive a bill from the surgeon, the anesthesiologist and the facility where you had surgery. If you had a biopsy, cultures or any tissue removed, you may also receive a pathology bill. Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center bills and makes financial arrangements for their services only.