Pre-op Instructions
Adequate preparation before surgery will make your overall experience better and safer:
If having IV sedation:
- Avoid food or drinks (including water) for eight hours before surgery.
- Arrange to have someone at least 18 years old accompany you to your surgery appointment and drive you home afterward. You may be drowsy for a while after anesthesia, and driving yourself is unsafe.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be rolled up easily.
- Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours before surgery.
- Remove fingernail polish to allow for oxygen monitoring.
- Medications- Adhere to any medications you normally take as recommended by your physician or prescribed by Dr. Kazemi prior to surgery. Any medications taken on a daily basis may be taken on the morning of surgery with a small sip of water.
- Blood thinners: If you are on Coumadin, it is best to stop it 72 hours prior to surgery (with approval of your Physician); If on Plavix or baby aspirin, there is no need for modification.
- Asthmatic patients: Please bring your inhaler with you on the day of surgery.
- Diabetic patients: If you are insulin-dependent, please take 1/2 of your normal dosage the morning of surgery.
- Steroid medications: On the morning of surgery, please double your normal dosage of medications.
- Heart murmur: For patients with a heart murmur requiring antibiotic prophylaxis, take the prescribed antibiotics 1 hour before surgery (please note that guidelines have changed and most antibiotics are no longer required for many types of heart murmurs- Call us for clarification or review.
Prescriptions:
For convenience we will give you necessary pain and antibiotic medications as part of your treatment and save you a trip to the pharmacy. Although for some medications, you will be given prescriptions. It is best to get such prescriptions at your consultation and have them filled prior to surgery. If you have existing pain or infection, you may be recommended to start the antibiotic and pain medications right away.
Food:
Prepare some foods beforehand, such as soups, shakes, ice cream, mashed potatoes, eggs, yogurt, and pasta, or rice. Drinks or shakes with high protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins will provide you with the adequate nutrients for a smooth recovery. Have plenty of juice on hand and ginger ale, which can help with nausea.
Other essentials:
It’s a good idea to place essential things you might need near your bed so you don’t have to get up frequently following surgery. This is especially important if you live alone. Some items to keep close by include: medications, gauze, tissues, water, drinks, a phone, a good book, your laptop, TV remote control, and DVDs.