What Patients Need to Know Prior to Surgery

 how to prepare for surgery

• No food or drink after midnight if you have a morning surgery/sedation

• Your doctor/dentist/surgeon and you will discuss your specific medications, including instructions on which you should and should not take on day of surgery

• You may take approved morning medications with a sip of water

• Our office will contact you regarding the time to begin fasting if you have an afternoon surgery/sedation

• You will not be able to drive the day of surgery so plan for a ride to and from the office

on the day of surgery:

• Your Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will perform a pre-op anesthesia evaluation that includes NPO guidelines (what you should or should not have eaten to prepare for surgery), medication check, and vitals

• Your CRNA will place the IV and get you to comfortable sleep for your procedure

• CRNA will be there the entire time, continuously monitoring vital signs and level of sedation, from the start of the procedure through discharge home.

• Bring updated list of all prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and vitamins that you take.

What to happens after sedation:

• When you are appropriately recovered from anesthetic, you will be discharged to go home.

• Advance diet slowly, starting with clear liquids.

• Feeling sleepy post-anesthesia is expected. It’s okay to go home and rest.

• By the next day you will be fully recovered from anesthetic and should have no further impairments from the medications given.

• Your surgeon/oral surgeon may have guidelines specific to your procedure so be sure to follow their post-op instructions.