Email a Friend
Print ArticleSurgery: What to Expect
Before Surgery
Preoperative care
Most surgery centers and hospitals have a before-surgery (preoperative) form for you to fill out. This information helps the surgical team prepare for your surgery. They are trained to provide you with safe care during your surgery. This form usually includes questions about your medical history and current health.
- Talk to your surgeon about what kinds of surgery you have had. Describe your recovery period, and be sure to mention any problems you may have had.
- Describe any health conditions you have,
such as:
- Diabetes.
- Heart problems. Also tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker.
- Lung problems, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
- Sleep apnea.
- Asthma.
- Any allergies to foods or any substance, including latex, tape, adhesives, anesthetics, or medicines. You may also be asked whether any family members have had reactions to anesthetics.
- Any bleeding problems or use of blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin, for example), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin.
- Tell your surgeon if you currently have a cold, flu, or fever or have had one recently.
- It is important for you to be honest with your doctor and tell him or her about any tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, or medicines you use. This includes herbal supplements, such as St. John's wort. Your use of substances or medicines may affect your reaction to anesthesia or pain medicines.
- Talk about any physical restrictions you have, such as an artificial joint or limited range of motion of your neck, arms, or legs.
- Let your doctor know if you have any metal implants or fragments in your body.
It is also important for your surgeon to know whether you are or might be pregnant.
You most likely will complete the preoperative form 1 to 3 days before your surgery. Your regular doctor or your surgeon may order certain tests-such as blood tests, urine tests, and blood clotting tests-to help determine your overall health. You may also be scheduled for other tests, such as X-rays or an electrocardiogram (EKG), if your surgeon thinks they are needed before your surgery.
Your surgeon may include other doctors in your care, depending on your other medical conditions. For example, if you have heart problems, your surgeon may discuss your care with a cardiologist. If you have many medical problems, your regular doctor may do your physical exam before surgery. To help make sure that no problems are missed, it can be helpful to have a doctor who knows you well do this exam and your medical history.
If you will need blood during your surgery, you may wish to donate your own blood. This is called autologous donation. It will have to be arranged several weeks before your surgery. To qualify for autologous donation, you must not be anemic.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Surgery: What to Expect Topics
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
Hot Topics
Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants
A breakthrough procedure gives women who want bigger breasts, but don’t like the idea of implant surgery, a new option.
