Surgery Day

The day is
HERE
- you made
the right choice.

The Day of Surgery
You should plan to arrive at the hospital about 2 hours prior to surgery to fill out pre-admission paperwork. Before leaving for the hospital, check to make sure you have:

Your health insurance card
A list of your medications and any allergies
Your living will or power of attorney
Emergency contact info

Don't wear jewelry or makeup. Remove nail polish, dentures and contact lenses or glasses before surgery. After showering or bathing, do not use lotion, perfume or deodorant. Don't eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your surgery. You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but don't swallow any water.

Before Surgery
After the paperwork is completed, your nurse will review your personal health history and your home medications with you. It's important that you share any recent changes in your health.

You'll also be asked to remove your clothing and put on a hospital gown. If you still have any jewelry or personal effects, you'll need to remove it and give it to your family. Then you'll be assigned to a bed in the preoperative holding area.

Preoperative Holding
Once you're in this surgical preparation area, a nurse will start an intravenous infusion while the anesthesiologist discusses with you the type of anesthesia best for your case. It will either be a general anesthetic (you'll be asleep) or a spinal anesthetic (you'll be awake but have no feeling from the waist down). Anesthesia is designed to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you.

While in preoperative holding, you'll:

Answer questions: You'll be asked several questions regarding your medication, allergies and medical history, and your vital signs will be taken.

Receive medication: You'll be given medication to help you relax.

Say goodbye to your family: They'll be taken to a waiting area where they can be kept informed of your progress during surgery.

You'll then be wheeled into your operating room.

Next: The Procedure