Before Your Surgery

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery (sometimes referred to as “NPO”). Exceptions to this rule are rare and should be discussed with your anesthesiologist. It is often a good idea to stay well hydrated on the day prior to surgery and to avoid alcoholic beverages. Although the least desirable “rule” of surgery, this instruction is very important for the protection of your airway during anesthesia. Your surgery may be cancelled if you do so.

If you are ill with fever, chest cold, vomiting or diarrhea just before the day of your surgery, please contact your surgeon’s office; he or she may contact us to discuss the possibility of postponing your procedure.

It is important to have a complete list of your allergies, medications and details of previous anesthetic complications available. If you have reports from prior anesthetics, recent lab work, EKGs, or any cardiac testing (such as stress tests and echocardiograms), please bring copies of these reports for us to review. Be sure to discuss your health history with the nurse who will call you in advance of your surgery and complete any forms provided to you either at the time of the preoperative consultation or on the day of your procedure.

BLOOD THINNERS:

If you are on a blood thinner such as Coumadin or Pradaxa, and your surgeon wants you to stop the medication around the time of your surgery, you will need to consult the physician who prescribed these medications for you before stopping them prior to surgery. Your doctor (usually a family physician, internist or cardiologist) may have important recommendations for you and your surgeon about how long you can safely stop these blood thinners.

If you have a stents in your heart and are on Plavix, Effient or Aspirin, and your surgeon wants you to stop any of these medications around the time of your surgery, you will need to contact your cardiologist for important recommendations for you and your surgeon about how long any of these medications could be safely discontinued.

If you are on Aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications like motrin/ ibuprofen for arthritis or other reasons, your surgeon may instruct you to stop these medications for seven (7) days prior to your surgery. In these cases, over the counter Tylenol would be permitted.

If you are having anesthesia, you will need to have someone over the age of 18 arrive at the facility with you. This person will need to remain at the center during your procedure, receive discharge instructions, and stay with you the night of surgery. Please make arrangements ahead of time. Children in the waiting area must be attended to at all times.

If your child is having surgery, a legal parent or guardian must stay in the buildings at all times throughout the child’s stay in the surgery center.

A member of our nursing staff and an anesthesia provider will call you 1-3 business days before your procedure to review your health history, reinforce these pre-surgery reminders, and answer any questions that you may have.