GENERAL PREOPERATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS
CHANGE IN HEALTH STATUS
Notify your surgeon if you
experience any significant change in your health status, or develop a cold or
influenza, or a bladder infection, diarrhea, or other infection, before your
surgery.
PREOPERATIVE MEDICATION
INSTRUCTIONS
Unless specifically instructed
otherwise by your surgeon or anesthesiologist, please observe the following
guidelines for taking your medicines before surgery:
One Week Prior to Surgery
STOP all aspirin and all
aspirin-containing medicines (e.g., Anacin, Excedrin, PeptoBismol). Check the
side of any cold or pain medication bottles to make certain aspirin is not
contained.
Stop Plavix
(Clopidogrel). Stop Vitamin E.
Five days prior to Surgery
Stop Coumadin (Warfarin) with
your doctor's permission. WE NEED TO
DISCUSS THIS DRUG ISSUE WITH YOU. YOU
WILL ALSO NEED A RE-START DATE DISCUSSED.
Two Days Prior to Surgery
STOP all nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., etodolac [Lodine], fenoprofen [Nalfon],
ibuprofen [Advil, Motrin, Nuprin], ketorolac [Toradol], maproxen [Aleve],
meclofenamate [Meclomen], mefenamic acid [Ponstel], naproxen [Anaprox,
Naprosyn].
On the Morning of your
Surgery:
DO NOT TAKE digitalis medicines
(e.g., Crystodigin, Digoxin, Lanoxin).
DO NOT TAKE oral antidiabetes
medicines (e.g., chlorpropamide [Diabinese], glyburide [DiaBeta, Glynase,
Micronase], glypizide [Glucotrol], tolazamide [Tolinase], tolbutamide
[Orinase].
DO TAKE one-half of your usual
morning INSULIN dose. DO NOT TAKE your
morning INSULIN dose if you are driving a great distance the morning of surgery
or if your surgery is scheduled for the afternoon.
DO TAKE, with a small sip of
water, ALL of your other usual morning doses of regularly prescribed
medicines. Use your asthma inhalers and
bring them with you to the hospital.
PREOPERATIVE DIET
INSTRUCTIONS
Unless specifically instructed
otherwise by your surgeon or anesthesiologist, patients of all ages must
observe the following diet restrictions before surgery:
Eight hours before the
Scheduled Start of your Surgery:
DO NOT EAT any solid foods,
including juices with pulp (e.g., orange juice, nectars), lozenges, candy,
chewing gum, and mints. DO NOT DRINK
full liquid, such as milk, cream, and jello.
You may continue to drink up to
eight ounces of clear liquids until SIX hours before the scheduled start
of your surgery. Clear liquids include
water, clear juices (e.g., apple, grape), black tea and black coffee.
Six hours before the
Scheduled Start of your Surgery:
DO NOT TAKE anything
by mouth except for your usual medicines; follow the Preoperative medication
instructions above.
Exceptions:
DO NOT TAKE anything my mouth
for eight hours, except for your usual medicines, if you are pregnant,
morbidly obese, or are diagnosed with diabetes, renal failure, or stomach acid
reflux with heartburn.
ON THE DAY OF SURGERY
Take your medicines as
instructed above.
You may brush your teeth; rinse
your mouth, but do not swallow the water.
Leave all jewelry (including
wedding and all other rings} and valuables (including money and credit cards)
at home.
If you wear contact lenses,
glasses or hearing aids, please bring a case or container, and solution for
contacts, to protect them while you are in surgery.
Wear a minimum amount of makeup,
and no mascara. Please remove the nail
polish from both index fingers.
Please bring a copy of your
current medical problem list from your primary care physician (family
medicine/internist}.
Minors (anyone less than 18
years old) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the
operative consent form.
The anesthesiologist will
discuss with you the anesthetic most appropriate for your medical condition and
procedure prior to surgery.
After your surgery, you must be
escorted/driven home by a responsible adult.
You may take a taxi car or shuttle if accompanied by a responsible adult
who can stay with you after the driver departs.
TIME TO ARRIVE FOR YOUR
SURGERY
During your Pre-Admission
Interview or later by phone or mail, our scheduling assistant will provide you
with the correct time to arrive for check-in prior to your surgery. If you do not know the time, please call
ARRIVAL TIME __________________________________ A.M./P.M.
WHERE TO ARRIVE _______________________________________