PREPARING FOR SURGERY
Eating/Drinking Before Surgery
DO NOT:
• Do not smoke, chew, or dip any tobacco products past midnight on the night before your surgery.
Using tobacco products past midnight may result in your procedure being delayed or canceled.
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. Consuming liquids or
solid foods after midnight may result in your procedure being delayed or cancelled.
• It is important that you are healthy for your surgery. If you have an illness, or feel that you may be
coming down with something, contact your physician’s office or surgery scheduler. Examples of
illness include fever, rash, cold or flu symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, strep throat, pink eye,
and chicken pox or shingles.
• If your child is having surgery, please follow the specific instructions provided by your surgeon.
DO:
• Take your morning medications with a sip of water. Do not take any diuretics (water pills) or
diabetic medications (insulin, etc.) on the morning of surgery.
• You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash, but do not swallow
the toothpaste, water, or mouthwash.
• Call your surgery scheduler if you or a family member have had any trouble with anesthesia in
the past.
Arranging for Discharge
You must be accompanied by an adult family member or friend to help with your transportation and
personal needs. You will not be registered for surgery unless you have made proper arrangements
for someone to drive you home after surgery. Generally, you will receive medication that will make
you sleepy or impair your ability to drive or make important decisions for 24 hours. We cannot allow
you to leave if you are not accompanied by another adult to drive you home.
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