Pre-Operative Instructions

• Patients cannot drive and must arrange to have a responsible adult to take them home and stay with them until the next day (or longer if necessary). Public transportation is not acceptable! Please provide a contact number if that person will not be here at the Surgery Center during surgery or recovery.
• Patients must not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before surgery. This also means no water, gum, hard candy, cough drops, or chewing tobacco. Brushing teeth without swallowing is allowed; you may rinse your mouth as desired.
• Do not eat anything after midnight the evening before surgery but you may drink CLEAR liquids until_______ on the day of surgery. Clear liquids are: coffee or tea without cream, soda, apple or white grape juice, bouillon or water. (No Jello). After______ do not drink anything but you may rinse your mouth with water as desired.
• Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to surgery.
• You should take these medications the morning of surgery (with a small amount of water). _____________________________________________
• Hold Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naproxen, Coumadin (or other blood thinners) and arthritis medicines for ______days or as directed by your surgeon (if approved by the prescribing physician). You may take Tylenol.
• Take a shower on the day of surgery. Wash the surgical area thoroughly with an antibacterial soap (if possible). Put on clean, freshly laundered clothing after your shower.
• Do not wear makeup, body lotion, nail polish, contact lenses or jewelry the day of surgery. If you are having hand surgery, all jewelry must be removed from the operative hand. If you are unable to remove it, you will need to have it removed by a jeweler before the day of your surgery.
• Bring crutches / walker / cane with you on the day of your surgery, as instructed by your surgeon.
• Please arrive at the Surgery Center at ____________. The Surgery Center will call the day before your surgery to confirm this time. (Sometimes unforeseen things arise which necessitate changes in the surgery schedule!)

If you have questions, please call the JCMG Outpatient Surgery Center Pre-Op Nurse at 573-556-7713.