How To Prepare For Surgery

Our professional, dedicated and caring healthcare staff is committed to making your upcoming visit as comfortable and easy as possible. Prior to your procedure, a member of our staff will contact you to answer any questions you may have and go over the details of your surgery, which include arrival time and medical history for anesthesia. If you have not spoken with a member of our staff 24-hours prior to your scheduled surgery, PLEASE call the pre-op nurse at (562) 453-3814.

Your individual physician will instruct you on how to best prepare for surgery. Here are some of the most common questions you want to be sure to understand to minimize post-surgery stress:

When may I shower after surgery?
What should I expect the week following my surgery?
When and how should I change the dressing?
Are there any signs or symptoms I should be aware of following my surgery?
When may I resume normal activities?
Are there any specific instructions for food and drink before and after my operation?

In Advance of Surgery

Pre-Operative Phone Call

If you are having surgery, our staff will attempt to call you 1–3 days before your procedure to review your health history. If we are unable to reach you, our nurses will request this information when you check in for surgery.

Transportation and Parking

Parking is free and available in front of the surgery center. Arrange in advance for an adult to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours following surgery. If you have young children, arrange in advance for their care as well. You may take a taxi if an adult accompanies you, or you may hire a medical transport company if they provide at-home care once you are discharged from our facility. Some community medical transport companies are:

JBL Med Transport / 1.888.743.3086
Silver Ride / 415.861.7433

**Campus is not affiliated with the aforementioned companies, and provides their contact information as a courtesy only.

Medications

Talk to your doctor in advance about any medications you may be taking. If your doctor gives you a prescription for pain medication, it is best to have it filled prior to your surgery. Please let your doctor know if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic or have a latex allergy. It also will be extremely helpful your admission process will be expedited if you are able to bring a list of all your medications with dosages, including herbs, vitamins and diet supplements, to the center.

Please avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), naxproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) or any anti-inflammatory medications at least one week before your surgery. If you are taking Plavix, Coumadin, Warfarin, Lovenox, Heparin or any other blood thinners, please follow your surgeon’s directions about when to stop them. If you have not stopped these medications, notify your surgeon.

Food and Drink

Your doctor will instruct you to do one of the following:

Adults and children more than two years old should not eat food/solids (including gum and mints) on the day of your procedure. You may have clear liquids up to 4 hours before your surgery. Clear liquids include water, fruit juices without pulp, 7-Up, ginger ale, and coffee or tea without milk.
Infants one-two years old should not eat solids or drink formula for the 8 hours before surgery. Clear liquids (including breast milk) should be encouraged up to 4 hours before surgery to keep the child hydrated.
Infants younger than one year old may have clear liquids (including breast milk) up to 2 hours before surgery to keep hydrated. Do not offer formula for 8 hours before the procedure.
Patients undergoing a pain medicine procedure who require sedation should not eat solid food on the day of the procedure, but may drink clear liquids up to 4 hours prior to the procedure.

Check with your doctor in advance regarding which eating and drinking instructions apply to you. All patients should refrain from smoking after midnight the night before surgery.

Day Of Surgery

Medications

If you normally take blood pressure, heart or seizure medication in the morning, take it with a sip of water on the day of your surgery as directed by your physician. Do not take any diabetic medications or use insulin the morning of surgery unless specifically instructed to do so by your anesthesiologist. If you use an inhaler or migraine medication, please bring them with you to the Surgery Center.

Attire

Please wear loose, freshly laundered clothing to ensure your comfort. Please do not bring any valuables with you, with the exception of a method of payment if necessary. Please refrain from using lotion, oils or perfumes after bathing, and remove nail polish if you are having hand or foot surgery.

Pediatric Patients

A parent or legal guardian must remain at the Surgery Center at all times when a child under the age of 18 is having a procedure. You may be with the child before and after the procedure. Two adults should accompany the child home — one to drive and one to take care of the child.