Preparing for Inpatient Surgery

Preparing for Surgery

Once you and your Doctor decide that surgery will help you, you will need to learn what to expect from the surgery and create a treatment plan for the best results afterward. Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working with Your Doctor

Before surgery, Dr Chaudhary may recommend that you be evaluated by your primary care physician and/or your treating medical specialists. your doctor will perform a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or the outcomes. Routine pre-operative tests, such as blood tests ECG’s, nsal swabs and X-rays, are usually performed approximately 3 weeks prior to your joint replacement or any major surgery.

• Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery
• Adhere to a healthy diet prior to surgery. If you are overweight, Dr Chaudhary may discuss a weight loss program. Losing excess weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your new joint. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron
• If you are taking a prescription blood thinner such as warfarin, Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, Plavix, etc. you should discuss a plan with Dr. Chaudhary or your primary care physician to stop these medication 3-5 days prior to surgery.
• If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding
• If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
• Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later.
• Report any infections to your surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up
• Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry
• Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often
• Create a recovery hub where most of your time will be spent. A comfortable chair, phone, television, reading materials and medications should all be within arm’s length.
• Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls.
• Bathroom modification can make a large difference. A shower chair or gripping bar will assist in your mobility following hip or knee replacement.
• Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms.
• If it is expected that your mobility will be greatly compromised during recovery, it is recommended that you get a temporary handicapped parking permit. Dr. Chaudhary’s office can assist you with this.

At your office visitation you will be given a pre-operative packet.

Pre-operative packet Includes:

• Pre-operative evaluation form to be completed by primary care physician
• Information regarding clearance from any specialists such as cardiologist, pulmonologist, hematologist.
• Required Pre-operative testing- such as laboratory data and ECG
• Instructions on medications that need to be stopped prior to surgery
• Patient undergoing a total knee arthroplasty are asked to call to arrange first post-operative therapy evaluation 2-3 days following operative intervention.
• Arranging your 2 week post-operative appointment
• You will be called with arrival time the week prior to surgery.

The night Before…

• Take a bath or shower the night before surgery. Follow any other specific bathing instructions provided in Dr. Chaudhary’s surgery packet,
• Do not shave the surgical site. If this is necessary, it will be taken care of in the operating room.
• Do not wear any nail polish, lipstick or makeup.
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight unless instructed otherwise.
• If you are expected to have a brief stay in the hospital, bring a bag with the following items:
  • Comfortable bedroom slippers with non-skid soles.
  • A robe or gown.
  • A comfortable shirt to wear under the hospital gown.
  • Reading material or laptop for entertainment.
  • Copies of insurance cards and medical history.
  • Medications you regularly take.
  • Items for personal care, such as toothbrush, eyeglasses, hairbrush, etc.
  • A comfortable change of clothes and comfortable shoes to wear home.
  • Please make sure to ask a friend or family member for help. This may simply include checking in on you daily, but it is important to have support during recovery.