1. Adults should eat or drink NOTHING,
even water, after MIDNIGHT prior to surgery or procedure. You may
take medicines with a SIP of water. Children should have NO SOLID
FOOD OR MILK SIX HOURS PRIOR TO SURGERY. Water can be given up to two hours
prior to surgery.
2. DO NOT eat candy/mints, chew gum, or use
tobacco or snuff the morning of surgery. You should brush your teeth and
rinse your mouth out with an antibacterial, such as "Listerine".
(Just don't swallow the water). You should shower with an antibacterial
soap the morning of your procedure, to minimize the incidence of infections.
3. If you make a mistake and eat or
drink, please tell us. Then we can make arrangements to reschedule your
operation or procedure, when it is safe to go ahead.
4. On the morning of surgery, take your
regular medicines with a SIP OF WATER. Consult your physicians with
regards to which meds you should not take. If you are a diabetic, tell the
scheduling staff, so that arrangements can be made to do your case first thing
in the morning. If you have been given an early appointment, take half of your
normal insulin dose and let the nursing staff know.
5. If you don't know the names or doses
of your medicines, bring them ALL, including eye drops and inhalers with
you the day of surgery or procedure.
6. If you develop a cold, fever,
stomachache, diarrhea, or the like, tell your physician right away. For
your safety, he may need to reschedule your operation or procedure. It is best
to call and cancel or reschedule tour procedure. Remember that if steroids are
to be used, they may temporarily decrease your immune system, making your viral
or bacterial infection progress and get worse.
7. DO NOT wear makeup or nail polish.
Eye makeup especially, can cause problems if it gets into your eyes while
you're asleep. You may bring makeup with you and apply it after you're
wide-awake. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Do not wear jewelry.
8. Let us know if you wear contact
lenses, hearing aids, false teeth or other such things so that we may better
care for you and them during surgery.
9. Don't plan on doing anything
important the day of OR the day after your operation. The effects
of many of our anesthesia drugs go away very slowly. You will be drowsy,
hours after anesthesia or sedation (even longer for some people!). For
these reasons, you MUST NOT drive a car, work with machinery, or
sign any important papers for at least 24 to 48 hours. This is obviously
for your safety and the safety of those around you.
10. YOU MUST ARRANGE FOR A RESPONSIBLE
ADULT TO ACCOMPANY YOU HOME AND CARE FOR YOU THE DAY OF SURGERY. We will not begin your
operation or procedure unless we have that person's name and know how to reach
him or her. Make sure that this person is physically capable of assisting you
to walk, in the event that one of your legs gets numb and weak with the local
anesthetics that will probably be used. If you get this numbness, it may last
four (4) to six (6) hours, until that local anesthetic wears off.
11. We may need to admit you to the hospital
after your operation or procedure, if we feel that it would be safest and best
for you. Therefore, always bring a bag with extra clothing, toothbrush, and any
personal effects that you may need. Do not bring any jewelry or anything of
value.