Day of Surgery

A surgery attendant prepares for a procedure

For your safety, failure to follow these instructions may result in your surgery being delayed or cancelled:

Eating and Drinking

If you have been given specific instructions related to eating and drinking, please follow your surgeon's instructions.

Eight Hours Before Surgery

Between four to eight hours before surgery, you may drink clear liquids. This includes water, black coffee, carbonated beverages, or Gatorade. This does NOT include milk, cream, or orange juice.

No solid food, including chewing gum or sucking on any items such as mints, hard candy, etc.
No smoking or chewing tobacco

Four Hours Before Surgery

DO NOT eat or drink
You may brush your teeth
Take medications with a sip of water

What to Expect

Check in

You will be asked for a picture ID and your insurance cards.
Your family will be given a pager so the surgery staff may communicate with them while you're in surgery.
Someone from pre-op will greet you in the waiting room and escort you to your room
Your family will be asked to wait for 15-20 minutes while you get changed and use the restroom.

Pre-Op

Your IV will be started
For your safety, your surgeon will use a marker to mark where you're having surgery
Your surgeon will answer any questions you may have
An anesthesia provider will visit you and explain what type of anesthesia will be used to keep you pain free or asleep during your procedure
Surgical site cleaned with a special soap