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We understand that undergoing a surgical procedure can be stressful. Your surgical team will talk to you about the type of surgery you are having and answer any questions you might have.
Please use these instructions and information as a general guide, as each surgery is unique and may require specialized instructions from your surgeon. We hope this guide will be useful to you.
Preoperative instructions
Night Before Surgery
✓ No food or fluid after midnight the night before surgery.
✓ Arrange for a friend or family member to bring you and pick you up from surgery. Also, arrange for a responsible adult to stay with you for at least 4 hours after surgery.
✓ If you smoke, you are advised to refrain from smoking the day before surgery.
✓ If you are scheduled to have surgery at a surgery center, the day before surgery the nurses will give you a call to go over your medical history, current medications, as well as give you an arrival time to check-in at the surgery center. That time is usually 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes) prior to your scheduled procedure. It may be as early as 5:45 am. Surgery times may change due to unforeseen events. We will keep you informed if there are unexpected delays.
✓ If you do not follow these guidelines, your surgery may be canceled. If there are necessary exceptions to these instructions, a nurse or the doctor from the surgery center will discuss them with you.
On The Day of Surgery
✓ Please wear comfortable and loose clothing, wear flat shoes.
✓ Please bring a form of ID along with your insurance card.
✓ Do not shave the area where surgery is to be performed. If shaving is necessary, it will be done at the facility.
✓ Do not wear make-up.
✓ Remove all jewelry and body piercings prior to surgery.
✓ If you wear contacts, please remove them prior to surgery, and please bring your glasses.
✓ Leave your valuables at home.
✓ If your child is undergoing surgery, please bring their blanket or toy. Also, please bring an approved car seat.
Post-Operative Appointments
✓ The first post-operative appointment will be 2-3 weeks after surgery. All post-surgical wound instructions will be given after surgery. You will be given appropriate therapy guidance, new DME, or splints.
✓ You will be provided with post-operative prescription. Monitor how much you have left. Refills can only be filled during normal business hours. They will not be refilled over the weekend or on holidays. Narcotic pain medications cannot be called in.
Medications
✓ Anti-Inflammatory Medications (e.g., Ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen, Mobic, Celebrex, etc.) must be stopped 7 days prior to surgery.
✓ Notify your surgical team if you are on any blood thinning products such as Warfin, Coumidin, Lovenox, etc., these medications require further instructions prior to surgery.
✓ Notify your surgical team if you are taking any insulin medications such as Lantus, Novolog, Ozempic, Trulicity, Jardiance, etc., these medications require further instructions prior to surgery.
✓ Notify your surgical team if you are taking any GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, etc., these medications require further instructions prior to surgery.
Types of Anesthesia
Anesthesiologists use a wide variety of drugs, in multiple combinations, in order to ensure that patients remain comfortable, relaxed, and free of pain during surgery or other procedures.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia places the entire body, including the brain, into a state of unconsciousness (sleep) during which the patient has no awareness and feels nothing, and will remember nothing of the surgical experience. General anesthesia is administered by injection or through a breathing mask, or sometimes both. In order to control your breathing, patients are intubated, which is the insertion of a flexible tube down the windpipe. The tube is inserted after the anesthesia is given and removed as you are waking up and breathing adequately. Upon awakening from anesthesia, patients may experience disorientation and/or a mild sore throat from the intubation.
MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care)
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC), also known as twilight anesthesia, is the intravenous administration of mild sedatives to help a patient relax and relieve anxiety during minor procedures that do not require general anesthesia. Procedures under MAC can additionally require the injection of a local anesthetic to numb the surgical site.
Thank you
Thank you for choosing Summit Orthopaedics for your upcoming surgical procedure. We take pride in providing the highest quality care in a safe environment. At Summit Orthopaedics, you will always be treated with compassion and concern for your well-being.