Preparing for Surgery

preparing for surgery

Before you go to the hospital (click here for the evening before and the morning of):

•	Make a list of all the medications you take. Include prescription medicines and all over the counter medicines such as allergy pills, vitamins, skin patches, and herbal remedies. Give the list to the nurse in Pre-Admission Testing well before your surgery and bring the list with you when you come to the hospital. Ask when you should stop taking your medicines.
•	Tell your doctor if you are taking aspirin or blood thinners. You may need to stop taking these medicines several days before surgery.
•	If you smoke, stop right away. The sooner you stop, the better your circulation and breathing will be.
•	Report any food or medication allergies you may have to your doctor and the nurse in Pre-Admission Testing.
•	Report health changes, such as an illness, infection, sore throat, or cold to your doctor.
•	Arrange for someone to stay with you for a few days after you go home from the hospital.
•	Plan to be released from the hospital to go home 4 days after surgery. If your recovery goes as planned, you will be able to go home about 4 days after surgery. Arrange to have someone take you to the hospital and drive you home once you are released.
•	Bring a copy of your Advance Directives when you arrive for pre-admission testing. We suggest that all patients have Advance Directives. If you do not have Advance Directives (Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and/or a Living Will), we will provide you with information and the forms. Please complete these forms before coming to the hospital or before your surgery.
•	Pack an overnight bag. Plan to be in the hospital about 5 days, including the day of surgery.
•	Women should have a bra with them. A soft, front-clasping bra without under wires is best. Some women may be asked to wear their bra after surgery to prevent stress on the chest incision.

Evening before surgery and morning of surgery:

•	Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes food, water, ice chips, alcohol, chewing gum, or hard candy. Doing this will prevent any stomach contents from getting into your lungs during surgery.
•	Do not smoke before your surgery.
•	Triseptin Hand and Body Wash is a special soap that helps prevent infection. Take 2 showers with Triseptin. Take one shower the evening before surgery and one the morning of surgery. Apply water to body areas Step away from the flow of water Apply Triseptin Body Wash to all body areas Soap for 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Scrub from chin to ankles, including the underarm and groin area Step into the flow of water and rinse soap off body Towel dry Use a clean towel after each shower Put on clean clothes after each shower
•	The morning of surgery, take only the medicines that you have been instructed to take with a SIP of water.
•	You will have your chest, upper back, legs, and arms shaved the morning of surgery. This helps to prevent infection of the incisions on your chest and leg.
•	Prior to surgery, you will meet an anesthesiologist . This is one of the doctors who is in charge of putting you to sleep during the surgery. The anesthesiologists at Sherman Hospital use the latest techniques to minimize pain and assist with your recovery.
•	Prior to surgery, you will learn how to do breathing exercises . You will use a small machine called an Incentive Spirometer to do the breathing exercises. The breathing exercises are an important part of your recovery after surgery.
•	Before going to the operating room, you must remove your glasses, dentures, jewelry, and nail polish. Give all of your valuables and wallet and/or purse to your family. Your family should keep your valuables with them and take them home.
•	Before going to the operating room, you may be taken to ARC (Ambulatory Recovery Center). Your family can go with you to this area. Your family will be able to stay with you in the ARC until you go to the operating room.

Click here to return to the Patient and Family Guide to Heart Surgery.

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