General instructions before coming to hospital for surgery
What to Expect Before Surgery?
You will have met with your surgeon before the day of your surgery. You may meet with the surgeon again right before the operation.
You may have an in-person or phone meeting with an Anaesthesianurse or provider before the day of surgery. On the day of surgery, you will meet with the Anaesthesiaproviders who will take care of you during surgery.
You may have an in-person or phone meeting with an Anaesthesianurse or provider before the day of surgery. On the day of surgery, you will meet with the Anaesthesiaproviders who will take care of you during surgery.When you talk with your surgery team on the day of surgery, expect them to:
- Ask you about your health. If you are sick, they may wait until you are better to do the surgery.
- Go over your health history.
- Find out about any medicines you take. Tell them about any prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and herbal medicines.
- Talk to you about the Anaesthesiayou will get for your surgery.
- If your doctor told you to take any medicine on the day of surgery, take it with a small sip of water.
- Do not use any deodorant, powder, lotion, perfume, aftershave, or makeup.
- Your recovery. The anesthesiologist continues to care for you after surgery, so ask about how any pain will be managed and any concerns you have about recovery, returning home, and getting back to your normal routine.
- Follow pre-surgery directions and diet. Unless you are having only local Anaesthesia, you may be told not to eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. This is because of the rare risk of food or liquid in your stomach getting into your lungs while you are under sedation or general Anaesthesia.
Some Frequent Questions which will help you for preparing Surgery
You may not eat or drink anything for eight hours before surgery with the exception of some (but not all) medications. Caution: Eating too close to your scheduled surgery may require rescheduling of your surgery.
Usually you need to be stopped several days before surgery. Oral medications may need to be replaced with injected or intravenous (IV) medications. It is extremely important that both your surgeon and your physician (who has ordered the anticoagulants) discuss the optimum timing for stopping these medicines. Please be aware that many drugs and herbal products may be anticoagulants (blood thinners) although they are not used for that purpose.
?In general, blood pressure (heart) medications, anti-seizure medications and acetaminophen-containing pain medications (no aspirin or NSAIDs) should be taken the morning of surgery with a sip of water. Insulin may be given in a reduced dose. Discuss this with your anesthesiologist. Oral hypoglycemic (diabetes pills) should NOT be taken.
Sleeping On Your Back. One of the best sleeping positions after any kind of surgery requires lying straight on your back.
?Plan to take it easy for a few days until you feel back to normal. Patients often feel minor effects following anesthesia, including being very tired, having some muscle aches, a sore throat and occasional dizziness or headaches.
?Make sure that you inform your surgeon and anesthesiologist that you have the device and bring the information card from your device (brand and model, company contact info). Each device responds differently to the devices we use in the operating room. We may need to have the device interrogated (tested) before or after your surgery, usually within six months of surgery.?