Preoperative Instructions

The goal of preoperative preparation is to decrease the risks of complications associated with surgery: heart attack, breathing problems, surgical site infection, bleeding and collection of blood in tissues.

This list serves as a guide for DOs and DON’Ts for the week preceding your surgery.

One week prior to surgery

DO:

• Make sure our office has all necessary documents, imaging and results of lab tests.
• Make sure your primary care doctor knows about your surgery and does not have any reservations.
• Ask questions about the upcoming procedure and the time around surgery.
• Check with your primary care doctor or cardiologist if it is safe for you to stop blood thinners or what to do about any diabetes medications.
• Start itranasal Mupirocin ointment to decrease colonization with Staph Aureus.

Night before surgery

DO:

• Shower using the antibacterial soap the night before surgery.
• Take beta-blocker medication (e.g. metoprolol, labelalol) if you were prescribed it before.
• If you are diabetic and require insulin: take only half of your dose the night prior to surgery.

DON’T:

• Do not shave or trim the operative area.
• Do not eat of drink after midnight on the day of surgery.
• Do not take any antihypertensive medications (apart from beta-blockers) including diuretics (e.g. furosemide, HCTZ), ACE inhibitors (e.g. lizinopril), calcium channel blockers (diltiazem), Losartan.