Preparing for Surgery & Procedure

Preparing for Surgery

Once you and your Doctor decide that surgery is required, preparing for surgery will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working with Your Doctor

• Before surgery, your doctor will assess your general medical condition to make sure you don't have any issues that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X rays are usually performed a week before any major surgery
  
  
• Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see if any should stop before surgery
  
  
• Notify your doctors of any drug allergies
  
  
• If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or warfarin or any drugs that increase the risk if bleeding you may need to stop taking then one week before surgery to minimise bleeding
  
  
• If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
• Report any significant infections to your surgeon. Surgery and anaesthesia cannot be performed until infections have been treated
  
  
• Arrange for someone to help out with everyday talks like cooking, shopping and laundry
  
  
• Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won't have to reach and bend as often
  
  
• Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls
  
  
• Non skid mats and handrails increase safety in the bathroom

Preparing for Procedure

• Fast before surgery for six hours
  
  
• Have a shower the morning of surgery
  
  
• Remain active with short walks the day of surgery to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  
  
• Have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours
  
  
• The combination of anaesthesia, food, and car motion quite often case nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Began with a light meal and try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours
  
  
• If you had surgery on an extremity (hand or elbow) keep that extremity elevated and wear your sling. Use ice as directed. This will help decrease swelling and pain
  
  
• Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain mediation until pain is severe, you will have more difficulty controlling the pain
  
  
• Do not drink alcohol or use sleeping pills while on prescription pain killers