THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING UC HEALTH
Welcome to Cincinnati’s academic health system.
Our goal is to provide excellent patient care
and customer service with all of the benefits of
academic medicine.
AS YOU PREPARE FOR SURGERY
- Expect a phone call from a nurse to review your
medications and instructions - You may be asked to meet with an anesthesiologist prior
to surgery depending on the type of surgery and your
medical history - Please notify your surgeon if you have a change in medical
history, a new hospitalization, or a new illness (cough,
shortness of breath, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, infection, or
rash) prior to surgery - Plan to arrive 2 hours before your scheduled
surgery time - Please choose a designated contact person for receiving
medical information while you are in surgery - If you are going home after surgery, you will need a ride
home and a responsible adult will need to stay with you the
first 24 hours - Please follow all instructions or surgery may be delayed
or cancelled. Please refer to your After Visit Summary for
the date and time of your surgery.
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Insurance Card
- Living Will/Power of Attorney
- List of Medications
- CPAP Machine, if you have one
- Sunglasses, if surgery is around your eyes
- Any special garments, if requested by your surgeon
- A case for glasses or contacts
- Please leave valuables at home. Children under the age of 14
are not allowed to visit in the perioperative area.
DIET
For your safety, your stomach must be empty prior
to surgery.
- Please drink plenty of fluids the day prior to
surgery and minimize caffeine - Do not eat or drink after midnight. This includes
food, alcohol, gum, mints, cough drops,
cigarettes, and chewing tobacco - If instructed to take medication on the
morning of surgery, please do so with the
smallest amount of water necessary to swallow
the pills - Please complete bowel prep or special diet if
instructed to do so by your surgeon - Please stop use of illegal drugs prior to surgery
as they can increase your risk during surgery
TOBACCO USE
Surgery is a great opportunity to stop smoking. If possible,
stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery,
but there are benefits to stopping for 12 hours
prior to surgery. For additional help to stop smoking,
please call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
PERSONAL CARE
- Please shower the night before and the morning
of surgery with soap - Please use chlorhexidine soap if instructed to do so
- Do not use lotions, perfumes, or powders on the
day of surgery - Do not use deodorant if it is near the site of surgery
- Do not shave the site of surgery
- You may brush your teeth on the morning of surgery
- Please remove makeup, nail polish, contact lenses,
and any body piercings - Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and secure
shoes (no flip flops or high heels).
MEDICATIONS
In most cases, you will be able to continue your
medications, including on the day of surgery. However,
please follow your doctor’s instructions.
Aspirin
It is usually ok to continue your aspirin unless you are
having ear, brain, or spine surgery. Please confirm with
your surgeon.
NSAIDS
Please stop 7 days prior to surgery. Examples include
ibuprofen and naproxen.
Pain and Anxiety Medications
Continue as usual. Examples include acetaminophen,
methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, gabapentin,
pregabalin, lorazepam, and alprazolam.
Blood Thinners
Please discuss a plan with the prescribing physician and
your surgeon. Examples include warfarin, rivaroxaban,
dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban, enoxaparin,
fondaparinux, clopidogrel, prasugrel,
and ticagrelor.
Diuretics (Water pills)
Please do not take on the day of surgery. Examples
include furosemide, torsemide, hydrochlorothiazide,
metolazone, chlorthalidone, and spironolactone.
ACE Inhibitors/ARBs (for high blood pressure)
Please do not take on the day of surgery, unless
specifically instructed to do so. Examples include
lisinopril, enalopril, captopril, benazepril, losartan,
and valsartan.
Insulin and Oral Diabetes Medications
Please do not take on the day of surgery. Take half
of your long acting insulin (glargine or detemir)
the night before. If you have an insulin pump,
please discuss with your endocrinologist.