Your surgeon will instruct you when to return for a follow up visit. This will be discussed prior to discharge. Please call your surgeon’s office to schedule or change this appointment.

Yes, you will need a responsible adult age 18 or older to drive you home from your procedure. In addition, you will need an adult to stay with you for the next 24 hours following surgery.

The pre-operative phone nurse will instruct you on which medications you may continue taking and which ones you must discontinue prior to surgery or to hold on the day of surgery.

Any female that is of childbearing age and/or menstruating will be required to have a pregnancy test. Patients who have had a tubal ligation over one year ago or had a hysterectomy will not be required to have a pregnancy test.

Your child may need an IV depending on the type of surgery to be performed. Timing of the IV placement will be determined by the doctor.

Your surgeon’s office will assist you with filling out disability or work related forms.

Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe for you to return to work or school.

Your surgeon will instruct you to use crutches if necessary. If you do not currently own crutches, arrangement can be made to help you obtain them.

An Advanced Directive is documentation of your wishes in relation to health care and end of life care in case you are unable to express your desires because your illness has limited your capacity to do so. It is only used for health care purposes and does not include wishes about financial or property issues.

Your family will be directed to the waiting area during your surgery. The surgeon will speak to your family following your procedure. The nurse will determine when the time is appropriate for your family to come back and visit.

You will meet with your surgeon and anesthesiologist prior to your surgery.

Diet supplements and vitamins can have interactions with anesthesia medications or affect certain body functions causing surgical complications.

You will be seen by an anesthesiologist prior to surgery to determine your need for relaxation medication.

You will need to arrive approximately 1 – 2 hours prior to your scheduled surgery start time. The time of arrival has been determined by your surgeon. This time is used to prepare you for surgery and allow for time to meet and speak with your anesthesia provider and surgeon.

Surgery cases are scheduled based on multiple factors including your surgeon’s availability, length of surgery, necessary equipment, type of anesthesia and the patient’s age and current health. Once you have selected a surgery date with your surgeon, we cannot guarantee your surgery at a specific time and you and your driver home need to be available at any time on your scheduled day of surgery. You will be given an arrival time and estimated time of surgery by the phone nurse during your pre-op phone interview. However, you will be notified the day prior to surgery of any known changes to your arrival or surgery time. There could also be an unexpected delay once you arrive as the surgery before you may take longer than expected which may delay your estimated start time.

MAC stands for monitored anesthesia care. It is provided by an anesthesiologist and is used for lighter or shorter procedures and does not require the use of a breathing tube. You will receive sedatives and painkillers through your IV to keep you relaxed and comfortable. You may even lightly sleep. The surgeon frequently injects local anesthesia at the site of your operation to make it numb.

You may receive oxygen through a plastic tube under your nose. The anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will monitor your blood pressure, heart rhythm, and blood oxygen level throughout the surgery. You will require a driver to take you home after this type of anesthesia.

For your safety, please remove all jewelry, especially piercings before arriving for your surgery. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss this with the phone nurse prior to your arrival.

You are encouraged to wear your glasses and bring a case. If you wear your contacts to the surgery center, please be prepared to remove them prior to the surgery and bring your contact case and solution.

Your body has reflexes that prevent food from being aspirated (into the lungs when it is swallowed or regurgitated). Anesthesia drugs can impair these reflexes, which can cause food to be inhaled into the lungs. This food may contain bacteria which can cause complications such as pneumonia when inhaled into the lungs. It is important not to eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your scheduled procedure, unless given direction by your physician or pre-operative phone nurse. This includes no water, food, gum, candy, lozenges or chewing tobacco. We recommend you avoid smoking prior to your surgery.