Pre-operative checklist

General guidelines

• If you develop a cold, sore throat, fever or any other illness prior to your procedure date, notify your surgeon immediately.
• If you are going home the same day of your surgery you will need to arrange for a responsible adult, age 18 years old or older, to drive you home and stay with you overnight. If this has not been arranged, it may result in cancellation of your surgery.
• If you have young children, please make arrangements for their care while you are at the hospital.
• Plan to bring your glasses, hearing aids, dentures or other assistive devices with you if you rely on them. Once you go into surgery, these devices will be given to your family.
• On the day prior to your procedure, a representative from the hospital will contact you to confirm your arrival time. Your arrival time will be individualized based on your specific surgical preparation needs.

Medications & supplements

• Blood thinners: Medications such as coumadin, heparin, aspirin, plavix, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other blood thinners affect the body’s blood clotting capabilities. These medications are usually stopped prior to surgery. Please contact your physician regarding a stop date for these medications.
• Inhalers and eye drops: You may use your inhaler and eye drops the morning of surgery. Please bring these with you on the day of surgery.
• Vitamins and supplements: Due to interactions with anesthesia, the anesthesiologist requests you STOP all herbs, supplements and vitamins seven days prior to your surgery.
• Weight loss medications: You must stop all weight loss medication, such as Phentermine, at least 2 weeks prior to surgery.

Diabetics

• At Advocate, we have a specific diabetic protocol. We will be reviewing the protocol and provide instruction for your diabetic medications with you prior to your procedure.
• Inform your surgeon that you have diabetes.
• Poor blood sugar control can have an impact on a successful surgical outcome, and can lead to a delay or cancellation of your surgery.

Advance directives

Advance Directives such as a Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will are legal documents stating how much medical care a person desires in certain circumstances. These documents allow you to appoint a person to make your medical decisions if you cannot make them for yourself. If you would like to initiate these forms or receive more information a representative from the hospital’s Mission & Spiritual Care will assist you prior to surgery. There is no fee for this service. If you have existing documents please bring a copy with you to the hospital for your medical record.

Preventing surgical site infections (SSI’s)

Advocate is committed to working together with our patients to prevent infection. During your surgery we will provide antibiotics (medications that prevent infections) and clean your skin with special products that help kill germs. We will monitor body temperature, blood sugar and other vital signs.

Your skin helps to protect against infection. Surgeries that cause a break in your skin have a risk postoperative infection. These infections are called surgical site infections (SSI) because they occur on the part of the body where the surgery took place. There is a 1 to 3% chance of developing a surgical site infection when you have surgery.

You can help prevent infections

1. Showering:

• Please follow your surgeon’s specific showering instructions.

2. Hand washing:

• This is the single most important thing you can do to decrease your risk for surgical site infection.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. If they are not visibly soiled, you may use hand sanitizer.
• Have others around you wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
• Ask your healthcare providers if they have washed their hands.

3. No shaving:

• Razors may cause small tears in the skin creating an opening for infection.
• Do not shave near your surgical site with a razor for 3 days before surgery.
• On the morning of surgery, do not shave any part of your body below the chin. Cleansing wipes are used in pre-surgery to decrease skin bacteria and if you have recently shaved, it can cause irritation.

4. Care of the surgical site

• Ask family and friends who visit you to not touch the surgical wound or bandages. Instruct them to clean their hands thoroughly before and after visiting you.
• Ask your doctor to explain why you are continuing to receive antibiotics if you are still receiving them for more than 24 hours after your surgery.
• Learn about taking care of your wound and know who to contact if you have questions or problems before leaving the hospital.
• Always clean your hands before and after caring for your wound at home.
• Call your doctor immediately if you have any signs of infection such as redness or increased pain at the surgical site, drainage, body aches or fever.
• Remember, if you do not see your visitors or members of your health care team clean their hands, please ask them to do so!

5. Provide a full health history

• Some diseases increase the risk for infection and your doctor will create a plan for prevention.

6. Quit smoking

• Patients who smoke get more infections.

Day before surgery

• The day before your surgery drink plenty of fluids unless you are on a fluid restriction.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke for 24 hours prior to your procedure.
• In an attempt to prevent infection, shower the night before and the morning of surgery. If your surgeon has not provided specific bathing instructions, please follow the instructions provided by the Pre-Surgical Testing Department.
• Perform thorough oral hygiene by brushing teeth with a new toothbrush (if possible).
• Remove all jewelry, make up and body piercings prior to arrival at the hospital and leave all valuables at home. 

Day of surgery

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day of surgery unless otherwise instructed by your physician or the nurse from Lutheran General Hospital. This includes hard candy, chewing gum or mints. Pediatric patients will be provided with specific instructions per anesthesia guidelines.
• Brush your teeth, but please swish and spit out the water, do not swallow.
• Do not bring any valuables with you to the hospital, including credit cards.
• Bring all applicable insurance cards and a photo ID with you.
• Do not wear contact lenses. If you wear eyeglasses remember to bring a case to store them in while you are in surgery.
• Wear loose fitting clothes.
• Bring reading materials or music to help pass the time.
• Wi-Fi is available in the hospital. Be sure to give any personal items to family or friends to hold while you are in surgery.
• Pediatric patients may bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket to help ease their anxiety. A special bottle or sippy cup may also be appropriate for after surgery.
• If you are staying overnight you may bring a bag of items you may need such as toiletry items, slippers, robe and a change of clothes for your discharge. Do not bring large bags. Your family will be given your belongings when you leave the pre-operative area.