How do I Prepare for Surgery and Anesthesia Before Surgery?

After your surgeon has scheduled your surgery, you may be asked to have a preoperative interview with the surgical liaison nurse. They will ask you questions about your health history including:

• Allergies
• Medications you take routinely
• Previous surgeries you have had
• Problems you have had with anesthesia in the past
• Problems your blood relatives may have had with anesthesia
• Present medical problems
• Smoking history
• Alcohol use
• Street drug use
• Over the counter medications or vitamin supplements

Please answer all questions thoroughly and honestly. Your anesthesia provider will plan your anesthesia based upon the information you give.

• If you are unsure of the names of your medications, bring them with you for your preoperative interview or when you come for surgery.

• Try to stop smoking prior to surgery.

• Usually, you should stop all aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) products one week prior to surgery. Speak to your physician about this before you stop taking them.