PREP FOR SURGERY

PREP FOR SURGERY

It is important that patients follow these guidelines in preparing for surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

1. Food and liquids in the stomach can cause serious complications and your surgery could be cancelled or postponed. IF YOU ARE HAVING A COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE, PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR PHYSICIAN?S SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BOWEL PREPARATION, EATING AND DRINKING. IF YOUR PHYSICIAN HAS INSTRUCTED YOU TO HAVE NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT, PLEASE ADHERE TO HIS/HER INSTRUCTIONS. Otherwise the following instructions apply:

You may eat up until 6 hours before your scheduled surgery.
After that you may drink clear liquids up until 2 hours before your scheduled surgery. Clear liquids include tea, apple juice, water, broth and coffee WITHOUT cream and/or sugar.
IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS, YOUR SURGERY MAY BE CANCELLED OR DELAYED.

(Solids include chewing gum, breath mints, candy, coffee with cream and/or sugar, beverages that you cannot see through ? such as orange juice, tomato juice and milk.)

These instructions will be given to you during your Pre-Operative phone call (about 2-4 days before your procedure date, excluding weekends and holidays.) If you do not receive a Pre-Operative phone call, please call the Surgery Center (929-7229) and ask to talk with the Pre-Op nurse.

If your child is the patient, please be careful to enforce the eating and drinking limits.

Please limit the use of alcohol and tobacco for 24 hours prior to your surgery.

2. If you are taking medications for high blood pressure, diabetes or nervous disorders contact the Greater Sacramento Surgery Center for more information.

3. If you develop a cold, fever or respiratory infection prior to surgery, please call your doctor and the surgery center at 929-7229.

4. For women, if there is any possibility that you are pregnant, please notify your surgeon.

The Morning of Surgery

5. Arrive promptly at the time scheduled. This will allow adequate time for all necessary admission procedures.

6. Bathe or shower the morning of surgery. If you shampoo your hair, be sure it is dry. Do not use hair spray.

7. Do not apply makeup, especially mascara. This includes lipstick.

8. Wear loose, comfortable clothing with low heeled shoes.

9. Remove all jewelry, including but not limited to: rings, body piercing jewelry (regardless of location) and decorative hair beads. Leave jewelry and all other valuables at home.

10. Bring a list of medications and the dosages that you take.

11. Please bring the following items:

COMPLETED PRE-REGISTRATION form
Patient medical history form
Insurance cards and/or payment
Photo I.D.
Copy of Advanced Directive if you have one. For more information go to http://www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/adv_hc_dir.htm

Prior to Surgery

12. If you wear glasses, contacts or dentures bring your container to store them in.

13. You will be asked to sign a surgical consent form prior to any medication being given. In the case of a minor, this form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

14. If your child is having surgery, please leave other children at home so that you can be free to be with your child in the pre and post operative areas.

15. You will not be allowed to drive home or take a taxi following surgery unless you have had only local anesthetic infiltration for your procedure. Arrange for a responsible friend or relative to drive you home. If you must take a taxi home you will be required to have a friend or relative accompany you.

Following Surgery

16. Do not drive or sign important papers until the day following your surgery.

17. Do not operate machinery, power tools, or appliances until the day following your surgery.

18. Do not make critical decisions until the day following your surgery.

19. Do not drink alcoholic beverages until the day following your surgery.

20. Your surgeon will provide post operative instructions regarding diet, rest and medications. In the event of any difficulty, call your surgeon or his answering service. If you think you need urgent help, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency room.

WHEN YOU LEAVE THE GREATER SACRAMENTO SURGERY CENTER, YOU MAY NOTICE THAT YOU STILL MAY BE SOMEWHAT DROWSY OR NAUSEATED. These are symptoms, depending on your procedure and your anesthetic, that are not uncommon and may last for up to 24 hours following surgery. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL NOT FEEL 100% NORMAL WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RECOVERY ROOM. Recovery continues in the comfort of your home. Therefore, it is important to stress that you have a responsible party at home to assist you for the first 24 hours and be sure to follow your doctor?s orders regarding diet, rest and medication. You will be given written post operative instructions and our patient satisfaction questionnaire. Please take a moment following your surgery in the comfort of your home to fill out this questionnaire so that we may continue to learn where our strengths are and where we may continue to improve our services to you.

A recovery room nurse will contact you within 4 days following your surgery. Please let the admitting nurse know if you do not plan on recovering at home for that initial 4 days. If you are staying with a friend or relative, please leave their phone number with the nurse so we will be able to reach you. This phone call will answer any questions that you may have about your recovery and further assure us that all is going well.

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