Before Your Surgery

• Ensure that any tests ordered by your doctor are done within 4-14 days of your surgery.
• Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home as you will not be able to drive for 24 hours. Your procedure will be cancelled if a ride home is not arranged.
• An adult will need to stay with you at home for 24 hours after your surgery.
• Arrive at the hospital 1 ½ to 2 hours before your surgery time. This will allow the staff enough time to prepare you for your procedure.

Surgery Preparation

Fasting
To avoid cancellation of procedure, carefully follow your doctor’s orders about fasting. If you have been told to fast:

• Eat normally until midnight the day before your surgery.After midnight, you should not eat or drink anything, not even water, unless otherwise instructed.
• Your stomach needs to be empty to prevent vomiting during and after surgery. If your stomach is not empty, your surgery will be cancelled and rescheduled for another date.
• You should not chew gum or suck on candies.When brushing your teeth, be careful not to swallow any water.
• If you take prescribed medications, follow your doctor’s instructions about taking the medications on the day of your surgery.
• If you are to take the medications on the day of surgery, they should be taken with as little water as possible.

Other Preparation

• Please have a bath or shower before coming to the hospital. This will cleanse your skin and help prevent infection.
• Do not wear deodorant, powder, perfume or cologne.
• Remove all make-up and nail polish on both fingers and toes so that your natural colour can be seen during surgery.
• Remove all jewellery. All piercings must be removed.
• Bring a case for your contact lenses, glasses or hearing aids.
• Call your doctor if you have a cold or illness within seven days before your surgery. This helps to avoid surgery cancellation.

Arriving at the Hospital

• Please go to the Day Surgery area to be checked in.
• A nurse will check your blood pressure and temperature and you will be asked to remove your clothing and put on a hospital gown. 

Let the nurse know...

• If you have taken any of your medications.
• if you take any herbal medications.
• If you have any allergies.
• If you have diabetes, asthma, or take blood thinning pills or aspirin.

What to bring to the Hospital

• Bring your Hospital Identification Card, MCP Card, Insurance Card and a method of paying related expenses.
• Wear comfortable clothes.
• Bring all medications you are presently taking.
• Bring a case for your contact lenses, glasses or hearing aids. 
• Denture cups will be provided.

What not to Bring to Hospital

• Jewellery or large amounts of money or other valuables.

In the Operating Room

• You will be accompanied to the operating room by a staff member
• Once in the operating room, a cap will be placed on your head to cover all your hair.
• You will be greeted by a nurse who will ask you your name, what operation you are having done, as well as other questions. Although these questions have been asked before, they are repeated for safety reasons. You will wait there until you are taken to the room where your operation will be done.
• The operating room is cool and the lights are bright. Warm blankets are available so please let the nurse know if you are cold.
• On the operating table, a safety strap will be placed over your legs because the tables are narrow.
• All operating room staff are dressed in blue or green uniforms, masks and caps. Machines will monitor your heart and breathing rate.
• The doctor giving you your anesthetic will start an I.V. in your arm or hand. This is a tubing connected to a bag of fluid that will give you water, nutrition and medication. A tight band will be placed around your arm and you will feel a slight pin prick as the needle is put in.
• When all staff are ready to begin, you will be given the anesthetic. This will put you to sleep or freeze the part of your body being operated on. Your hair may be clipped from that area and your skin will be washed with disinfectant to cleanse it before the operation.
• After the operation, you may have a bandage placed over your cut.

In the Recovery Room

• The Recovery Room is a large, open room with other patients.
• As you wake, you may find it hard to stay awake. This is normal until the anesthetic wears off. You may also notice a lot of noise. This is also normal.
• The nurse caring for you will check your blood pressure, pulse, breathing, your I.V. and your area of surgery. You may have an oxygen mask on your face to help you breathe easier.
• You may feel stomach sick or have pain after your surgery. These are normal and you will usually receive medication for this.
• You will stay in the Recovery Room for about 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours or until your doctor or nurse feels that you are ready to go home.

 After Your Surgery

• It is important that you get out of bed as soon as possible after surgery. However, you should not attempt to get out of bed on your own. You may feel lightheaded or dizzy and unable to stand straight when you get up for the first time. A nurse will assist you.
• It is also important that you breathe deeply and cough to help prevent lung (chest) problems. This may be painful but it will help you recover more quickly from your surgery.
• On the way home, be sure to get your prescriptions filled. Take your medications as indicated by the doctor or nurse.