Pre-Operative Instructions
If your surgery is before 12:00 noon, do not eat or drink
anything (including water) after midnight the night prior to your surgery. If
your surgery is after 12:00 noon, do not eat or drink anything (including water)
10 hours prior to your surgery.
You must arrive at the hospital at least 2 hours prior to
your scheduled surgery time. Your Surgery Coordinator will call you with this
time one day prior to your surgery date.
Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing to and from the hospital.
Leave all valuable items at home.
You will not be able to drive yourself home nor can you use a taxi. Please make arrangements for someone to drive you.
Your anesthesiologist may call you the night before your surgery to answer any
questions you have regarding anesthesia. Remember your Surgery Coordinator does
not know who the Anesthesiologist will be and cannot answer question pertaining
to anesthesia or anesthesia billing.
Do not take any aspirin or any aspirin-containing products
at least 7 days prior to your surgical procedure. This includes any anti-inflammatory
medications. If you have any questions regarding this or any medication you are
currently taking on a regular basis, please call and speak to your physician's
nurse or medical practitioner.
Please do not sunbathe at least one week prior to surgery
due to the risk of sunburn.
The Day Before Your Surgery
Remember not to eat or drink anything after midnight prior
to your surgery, or as directed by your anesthesiologist. This includes water, breath
mints and even chewing gum. Having food in your stomach can create a risk
during surgery.
Consult your doctor about whether you should discontinue
taking regularly scheduled medication, herbal products or aspirin prior to
surgery. If you are advised to continue taking your
medication, you should take it with only a sip of water.
Refrain from smoking after midnight and during the day of
your surgery. Be sure to make arrangements in advance
to have a responsible adult drive you home and be available to you after
surgery.
Regulations do not permit you to drive or use a taxicab.
When You Arrive
To ensure that there is adequate time to fill out the
necessary forms and prepare for surgery, you should arrive at your designated
facility at least two hours before your scheduled procedure. Family members and
friends are welcome to join you.
Upon arrival at your facility, you should register at the
Patient Registration Area located inside the reception area. You will then be
escorted to a preparation room, where you'll be asked
to change into a hospital gown. At this time, we will perform a simple physical
examination to check your weight, blood pressure and temperature.
From the pre-operative area, you will then
be taken to the operating suite for your procedure. During the time that
you are in surgery, your family and friends are welcome to wait in the
reception area.
After Your Surgery
After your surgery, you will be taken
to a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where our nurses will make sure that you
are comfortable. Most patients stay in the PACU for an hour or two and then are discharged home.
If your doctor decides that further observation is necessary,
or that you need more time to recover from your surgery, you may
be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.
Once you have returned home, it is highly recommended that someone stay with you, at least for the first night.