What Should I Do The Day Of Surgery?

NOTHING BY MOUTH.  On the morning of surgery, you should have nothing to eat or drink (after midnight prior to surgery). You may brush your teeth or rinse your mouth, but you should not eat or drink anything. If, however, you routinely take medications for your Blood Pressure or Heart in the morning, you should take your usual medications with a sip of water. (Discuss this with you surgeon or anesthesia provider.)

• Wear loose clothing that is easy to take off and put on.

• Be available. If your case starts late in the day, be available to come in earlier if called. Occasionally a case before you may be cancelled and you may be called to come in early.

• Have someone available to bring you to surgery and take you home after surgery. If you are having outpatient surgery, in which you will go home after surgery, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Some facilities will cancel your surgery if you do not have a person available to drive you home.

• If you take medications at home, bring the bottles with you to surgery. Your anesthesia provider may need to look at them to make sure the correct medicines are listed on your record.