means anesthesiologists use different
techniques to manage the patient’s
airway during the surgery and to assist
with pain management. When Ms.
Hejl was recovering from her hip
replacement, she benefitted from this
aspect as well. “I was given a spinal
anesthetic and medication to help me
sleep through the procedure,” she says.
“Later, when I started moving around
in the recovery room, there was no
pain at all and I was able to keep on top
of the pain with oral painkillers.”
Same-day successes
Dr. Schultz credits his team for their
impressive record of successful sameday DAA surgeries. “The breadth
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock
now serves as a regional training center in the DAA
procedure for surgeons around the state.
and involvement of the team across
physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists,
and physical therapists is absolutely
critical, especially in a same-day
environment,” he says. “Everybody
works together to make it possible for
patients to go home the same day. It
wouldn’t happen without all of those
Last year, after Mr. Judy felt pain on his left side,
Dr. Schultz told him that his left hip needed to be
replaced. “After having a knee and hip done,
I was not looking forward to that,” he says. “But
Dr. Schultz told me that they had a different
procedure. That got my attention.”
As it turned out, it was in fact a same-day surgery
for Mr. Judy. He was able to get up and walk around
right away after the surgery. “I was euphoric,” he
says. “I took off down the hall and the nurse could
barely keep up with me!”
people working together.”
“It was the smoothest thing I’ve
ever been through,” says Ms. Hejl. “I’m
amazed. People my age are putting off
this procedure, because you have stuff
you want to do and don’t want to be
laid up for six to eight weeks, but this
hasn’t slowed