Preparing for Surgery- Adults

Liquid Intake

WARNING: Disregarding these rules may require cancellation of your surgery. Disregarding these rules may result in vomiting under anesthesia, with subsequent pneumonia and death.

Solid Food -- Adults and children:

Do not eat any solid food whatsoever after midnight the night before surgery.

Liquids -- Adults:

On your surgery day, you may have clear liquids for up to four hours before the scheduled time of surgery. For example, if your surgery is scheduled for 10:00 am, you may have clear liquids until 6:00 am, and nothing after, except for sips of water to take your usual medications.

Liquids -- Children 12 and under:

On your surgery day, you may have clear liquids for up two hours before the scheduled time of surgery. For example, if your surgery is scheduled for 10:00 am, you may have clear liquids until 8:00 am, and nothing after.

Acceptable clear liquids are water, soft drinks, fruit juices without pulp, coffee or tea without milk, or popsicles. No milk or milk products are permitted.

After midnight the night before your surgery, do not eat or drink under any circumstances:

  • Any solids whatsoever (no crackers, toast, cereal).
  • Milk or milk products including thick shakes.
  • Fresh squeezed orange juice with pulp.
  • Beer or any alcoholic drink.

Your Usual Medications:

Take all your usual medications with sips of water at home the morning of surgery.

  • If you regularly use inhalers, take these also at home and bring them with you to the hospital.
  • If you develop a bad cold or flu before surgery day, call your surgeon, or call the Anesthesia Department at 433-4045.

Which medications should you take the morning of surgery?

Medication
Take?
 When?
Sips of Water?
Routine meds, including
BP meds, Heart Pills,
Pain-killers, Anxiety Meds,
Anti-Depressants,
Antibiotics
Yes
 Right up to Surgery
Yes
Inhalers for Asthma
Yes
 Right up to Surgery
Bring to hospital
NA
Insulin
No
 All diabetic patients on Insulin should come to SSU at 8:00 am, or earlier if surgery time is earlier. Call us if necessary for instructions.
Diuretics, Fluid Pills
(Lasix, HCTZ, etc.)
No

Oral Hypglycemics for
Diabetics
No

Special Circumstances-- hiatal hernia, peptic or disdended ulcer or heartburn

For all patients with a present or past history of hiatal (stomach) hernia, peptic or duodenal ulcer, heartburn, excess stomach acid, esophageal reflux or stomach regurgitation:

Please take Zantac 75mg over the counter:

  1. Two at bedtime the night before surgery.
  2. Two the morning of surgery with sips of water.

Over the counter Zantac may be obtained inexpensively in packages of four at CVS and other drug stores.

If you are already on Zantac or similar medications for these problems, please take your own medications with sips of water the morning of surgery.

Preoperative Reminders

If you do not already know your surgery time, and time of arrival please call your doctor.

On the day of surgery, please enter through the Back Entrance by the emergency door; follow signs to short stay unit. Bring your insurance card and glasses with you. Make sure you arrange for a ride to the hospital and a ride back home.

Wear comfortable clothing.

Do not bring to the hospital:

  • Credit Cards
  • Checkbook
  • Wallet
  • Purse
  • Money
  • Remove all jewelry

Please leave everything at home!

Special Services:

Call the preop nurse if you would like to arrange for any of the following:

  • Pediatric tour
  • For parents whose children stay overnight, you may order meals for yourself to be brought to their room after surgery.
  • Reiki session -- before or after surgery (no charge)
  • Breast Cancer Information: Laurie Rosa, RN, Cancer Care Education Coordinator
  • Visit with anesthesiologist before surgery: Monday through Friday at 1:00 pm.
  • Private Room
  • Assistance in arranging post discharge rehabilitation

Questions:

If you have any questions, please call us:

  • Short Stay Unit- 433-4033, Monday through Friday -- 6:00 am-6:00 pm
    or
  • Preop Nurse (Pam Chick) - 433-4837, Monday through Friday -- 7:30 am- 11:00 am & 2:00 pm- 3:30