Preparing for Surgery

Preparing physically for surgery can help maximize your results and improve the healing process. In the weeks before your surgery you should:

Decrease smoking as much as possible, ideally ceasing completely. Not smoking the morning of surgery decreases infections after surgery.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
Exercise regularly to build energy and maintain strength.
Stop aspirin 2 weeks before surgery unless otherwise instructed. You may also need to stop anti-inflammatory medications such as Motrin, Advil, Naprosyn, and ibuprofen 2 weeks before surgery. Do not stop taking any prescription medications without first checking with the prescribing physician and your surgeon.
Stop herbal supplements 2 weeks before surgery. You may take a multi-vitamin as long as it does not contain certain herbal supplements.
Be sure that you have made your surgeon aware of any ongoing health problems that you may have and provided him with a complete list of the medications you take.
In addition to the surgery date itself, there may be a few other appointments required before surgery can take place. The surgery scheduler will arrange these for you at the time of surgery scheduling.

These may include:

Blood tests, EKG, and other pre-operative testing. These tests are required for some surgeries. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will determine which tests you will need before your surgery.
A pre-op appointment with your surgeon or a surgery instruction appointment with a surgery scheduler. This appointment generally takes place 3-7 days before surgery.

The day before your surgery

You and your caregiver should review the Pre-surgery instruction sheet you received at your pre-op appointment. It is essential that you follow the instructions carefully to prevent the need for rescheduling your surgery.

Remember – you will not be allowed to eat any food after midnight the night before your surgery and your clear fluids will be restricted to what is listed on your instruction sheet.
Ensure that you have an adult caregiver ready to accompany you to surgery, drive you home, and stay with you for the first 24 hours after your surgery.
You will receive a call about your scheduled surgery the day prior between 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If you have not heard from us by 3:00 p.m., please call the clinic at (503) 361-3094.
You and your caregiver should each review the post-op instruction sheet that is specific to your surgery if you were provided one at your pre-op visit. This form can answer many of the questions you and your caregiver may have after surgery.
Write down any questions that you may have to discuss with your surgeon or anesthesiologist before the surgery.
You will receive specific medication instructions from a staff nurse and anesthesia provider

Make sure your home is ready for your recovery. Do you have a working digital thermometer? A recliner or other way to elevate your head? Fluids and foods that you prefer? Bandages or dressings, if needed, for your surgery? Remember – you will not be able to drive while you are taking narcotic pain medications.

Medication Precautions

Aspirin

Aspirin and aspirin-containing products must be stopped 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. Some common examples:

Anacin
Alka Seltzer
Bufferin
Fiorinal
Ecotrin
Excedrin
Pepto Bismol

This is not a complete list. There are many other products on the market that contain aspirin. If you have any questions about the medications you take, please check with your physician or pharmacist.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS)

Your surgeon will have special instructions for you regarding the use of anti-inflammatory medications before and after surgery. Your surgery scheduler will provide you with instructions specific to your surgery at the time of scheduling.

If you have a medical condition that requires the use of one of these medications and do not feel you can stop taking it for 2 weeks, please contact your surgeon for advice.

Blood thinners

Special arrangements will need to be made for patients taking Coumadin,Warfarin, Heparin, Plavix and other blood thinners. It is important that you inform your surgeon or the surgery scheduler if you are taking one of these medications.

Herbal supplements

The FDA does not regulate herbal products for safety in the same way they regulate medications. There have been many documented cases of bad interactions between herbals products and anesthetic medications; because of this, our anesthesiologists require all herbal supplements be stopped 2 full weeks before surgery. A multi-vitamin is allowed as long as it does not contain herbals products. If you have questions, please read the product label or check with the pharmacist. Herbal teas are allowed.

No other prescription medications should be stopped without the advice and consent of your physician.