You are ready!
Read this section now, and review it again carefully on the day before surgery. The instructions in this section are very important. If you have any questions about these instructions, your prescriptions or your arrival time please contact our office.
Try to rest today, relax and get a good night's sleep tonight.
Diet & Fluids Before Surgery
Patients who are well hydrated before surgery experience less nausea, less thirst and are more comfortable on the day of surgery. Because of that, we may allow you to drink fluids closer to your surgery time than instructions you may have received with prior procedures. It is important that you understand the instructions about when you should stop eating and drinking. They will review these instructions with you during the pre-operative assessment visit. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.
- Drink 20 oz. of Gatorade during the afternoon prior to surgery.
- Drink 20 oz. of Gatorade during the evening prior to surgery.
- You may be instructed to drink 20 oz. of Gatorade on the morning of your surgery. Not all patients will be instructed to do this. If you are instructed to do this, it should be completed at least 3 hours prior to surgery.
- You must not drink anything in the 3 hours prior to surgery.
If you drink anything after the three hour cut off, there is a chance that your surgery could be delayed or cancelled. Fluids are important, but should not be consumed within the last three hours before your surgery.
Unless instructed otherwise, please do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
If you eat anything after midnight the night before your surgery, there is a chance that your surgery could be delayed or cancelled because it increases the risks of anesthesia.
Skin Prep At Home
You play an important part in preparing the skin at your surgery site for surgery. There is bateria that lives on your skin. It is normal to have those germs on your skin and we cannot make skin sterile. However, you can greatly reduce the number of bacteria by carefully washing your skin with a special antibacterial soap called chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). We will do a final skin prep in the operating room just before the start of your surgery, but your attention to these steps will make the overall prep more effective.
- The CHG shower solution will be provided to you at your pre-operative testing visit. If you are allergic to chlorhexidine, use an antibacterial soap (such as DIAL®) for your shower. You can use your normal shampoo product.
- Turn the water off before applying CHG soap to prevent rinsing it off too soon.
- Apply CHG to a wet cloth and lather your body from neck down only. DO NOT USE CHG near eyes, ears or genital area.
- Wash thoroughly, paying close attention to the area(s) where your surgery will be performed. Do not scrub your skin too hard.
- If you are unable to reach your legs, feet or back, have someone assist you.
- Turn the water back on and RINSE your body thoroughly afterward to remove the residue.
- Pat yourself dry with a clean, soft towel.
- Do not use lotion, cream or powder. Do not shave the area(s) of your body where your surgery will be performed.
- Dress in clean clothes and sleep on clean sheets after you begin your shower routine.
- It is recommended not to sleep with family pets after you shower in preparation for your surgery.
You should shower or bathe with the CHG soap 2 times before your surgery. This could be the night before your surgery and the morning of surgery.
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