Preparing for surgery

Please follow the steps below prior to your surgery to help ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Contact your surgeon or physician prior to your surgery date if:

• You are not sure what time to arrive at the center on the day of your procedure.
• You experience any changes in your health between your most recent visit to your physician and the day of your procedure, even minor ones like a temperature, cough or a cold.
• You suspect that you are pregnant. Anesthesia and medication may be harmful to the developing fetus.
• You have a latex allergy, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney or liver failure.
• You take medications on a regular basis. Your physician/surgeon may have guidance about which medications you should or should not take on the day of your procedure.

Note: Do not take any medications containing aspirin, vitamin E, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbs, or weight loss products for at least seven (7) days prior to the procedure and the day following your procedure. If you have taken any of these, please inform your physician/surgeon as soon as possible.

If we have not reached you two days prior to surgery to review your medical history, pre-operative instructions, and financial arrangements, please call us at (210) 575-0355 and ask to speak to the pre-op nurse. If you have any other questions about getting ready for your procedure, please feel free to call us.

We understand the special needs of children. If you would like to bring your child in for a tour before their procedure, please contact us at (210) 575-5437 to set up a time. Frequently, this will help ease anxiety that you and your child may feel. Also, feel free to bring a favorite toy or blanket for your child to help them feel more comfortable.

Both parents may stay with their child in the pre-operative area before surgery and in second stage recovery following surgery. Feel free to bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. A parent or legal guardian must remain in the facility while their child is under our care. Please bring a bottle or sippy cup if your child does not drink from a cup.

The facility will assign financial responsible to the parent or legal guardian who brings the child in.

• Do not smoke after midnight the day of your surgery.
• Do not eat or drink anything (including water, gum, mints, hard candy) after midnight the day of surgery, unless you are directed otherwise by your surgeon. Undigested food in the stomach can cause complications and your surgery is likely to be postponed if you forget to follow these instructions.

On the day of surgery you should arrive at your scheduled appointment time. You will be admitted to the center and we will begin preparing you for your procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form for your procedure, which acknowledges your permission for the physician and facility to care for you. If the patient is a minor, this form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

We also recommend that you do the following:

• Take a bath or shower and brush your teeth (taking care not to swallow any water) the morning of surgery because this will minimize the chance of infection.
• Remove all makeup, nail polish, jewelry, and contacts. If you must wear contacts, please bring your storage case for use during surgery.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can accommodate a bandage, cast, or other type of dressing where the procedure is being performed. Keep in mind that our center is always kept at a cooler temperature. During surgery, you will wear a patient gown provided by the center.

• Bring all insurance cards. It is important for us to have all the current and correct information.
• Bring a government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license. Minors do not need ID but the primary insured party does need theirs.
• Bring your form of payment, if required.
• Bring a copy of your consent forms and an Advanced Directive if you have one. Your signature will be required in accordance with your particular procedure.
• If you have asthma or emphysema, bring inhalers with you.
• If you take insulin, bring the bottle of insulin and syringes with you.
• Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to the center, receive discharge instructions, drive you home and stay with you for the first night following surgery.
• Limit the number of people who accompany you to the center. We suggest that adult patients be accompanied by only one person.
• We do welcome both parents of pediatric patients. Parents of children absolutely cannot leave while their child (minor) is at the facility; they must remain in the waiting area. It would be better if siblings did not visit due to lack of entertainment at the center. If your child does not drink from a cup, please bring a bottle or sippy cup. It is fine for your child to have something to drink after the procedure.

After your procedure, you will be moved to our full-equipped recovery room where the anesthesiologist and our recovery room nurses will observe you closely until you are ready to go home. Your doctor will want to talk with a family member/friend after your surgery so it is important for this person to remain in the building.

The time a patient stays in the recovery room will vary depending on the procedure performed and the physician’s instructions, but typically most patients are discharged within one to two hours after their procedure. You will need a responsible adult to drive you home.

Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions about diet, rest, exercise, and medications. The center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions before you are discharged. We suggest that you pamper yourself for the first 24 hours following your procedure.

If you had anesthesia and/or pain medications, arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours. Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone these activities for 24 hours after discharge:

• Driving and operating equipment
• Signing important papers
• Making significant decisions
• Drinking alcoholic beverages

If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. A nurse from the center will attempt to call you the next day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.