• There is a pre-admission appointment with the surgeon. Before your surgery, you will be seen by the physician and the anesthesiologist.
• The anesthesiologist will discuss with you the anesthetic most appropriate for your medical condition and procedure prior to surgery.
• Notify your surgeon if you experience any significant change in your health status: develop a cold, influenza, a bladder infection, diarrhea, or other infections, before your surgery.

Pre-Operative Medication Instructions

One Week  Prior to Surgery

• STOP all aspirin and all aspirin-containing medicines (e.g., Anacin, Excedrin, Pepto-Bismol). Check any cold or pain medication bottles to make certain aspirin is not contained.
• STOP cigarette smoking and alcohol intake one week before the scheduled surgery.

Two Days  Prior to Surgery

• STOP all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., Etodolac [Lodine], Fenoprofen [Nalfon], Ibuprofen [Advil, Motrin, Nuprin], Ketorolac [Toradol], Maproxen [Aleve], Meclofenarnate [Meclomen], Mefenamic acid [Ponstel], Naproxen [Anaprox, Naprosyn].

On  The Day Of Surgery

• Leave all jewelry (including wedding and all other rings) and valuables at home.
• If you wear contact lenses, glasses or hearing aids, please bring a case or container, and solution for contacts, to protect them while you are in surgery.
• Wear a minimum amount of makeup, and no mascara. Please remove the nail polish from both index fingers.
• Please bring a copy of your current medical problem list from you primary care physician (family medicine/internist).

On  The Morning of your Surgery

• DO NOT TAKE digitalis medicines (e.g., Crystodigin, Digoxin, Lanoxin).
• DO NOT TAKE oral antidiabetes medicines (e.g., chlorpropamide [Diabinese], glyburide [DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase], glypizide [Glucotrol], tolazamide [Tolinase], tolbutamide [Orinase].
• DO TAKE one-half of your usual morning. INSULIN dose.
• DO NOT TAKE your morning INSULIN dose if you are driving a great distance the morning of surgery or if your surgery is scheduled for the afternoon.
• DO TAKE, with a small sip of water, ALL of your other usual morning doses of regularly prescribed medicines.
•  Use your asthma inhalers and bring them with you to the hospital.

Pre-Operative Diet Instructions

Eight hours  before the Scheduled Start of your Surgery

• DO NOT EAT any solid foods, including juices with pulp (e.g., orange juice, nectars).
•  DO NOT DRINK full liquid, such as milk, cream, and jello. You may continue to drink up to eight ounces of clear liquids until   SIX hours before the scheduled start of your surgery. ( Note:  Clear liquids include Water, clear juices (e.g., apple, grape), black tea and black coffee).

Six hours  before the Scheduled Start of your Surgery

• DO NOT TAKE anything by mouth except for your usual medicines; follow the Preoperative medication instructions above.
• Exceptions: DO NOT TAKE anything by mouth for eight hours, except for your usual medicines ( for morbidly obese, or are diagnosed with diabetes, renal failure, or stomach acid reflux with heartburn).
• Patients undergoing operative or diagnostic procedures involving sedation are required to refrain from eating, drinking or taking anything by mouth for a stated period prior to their surgery or procedure.The reason for this is to prevent complications caused by nausea or vomiting while you are unconscious. Should you vomit while in the unconscious state, the risk exists that the vomit may enter into your lungs causing serious complications such as pneumonia.

These complications may result in an extension of your hospitalization following your surgical procedure. It is for this reason patients are often instructed to have nothing by mouth after midnight the night prior to your operation unless otherwise instructed by an anesthetist.