Hospital Affiliation

HCA East Florida

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Preparing for Surgery

Patient Instructions

You will be contacted by our pre-op calling department to discuss your medical history, give you instructions, verify the time of your appointment and answer any questions you may have approximately two days before your procedure. If we have not reached you two days before your procedure, please call us at 561-964-3966 X-111. If you have any questions about preparing for your procedure, please feel free to call us.

Follow your physician’s instructions regarding not taking anticoagulants, including medications containing aspirin, vitamin E, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbs, or weight loss products.  If you have taken any of these drugs 7 days prior to your procedure please notify your physician.

Contact your physician if you experience any changes in your health between your most recent visit to his office and the day of your procedures, even minor ones like a fever, cough or a cold.

The Day Before Your Procedure

  1. Follow your physician’s instructions for any dietary restrictions or bowel preparations if you are having a colonoscopy.
  2. If you are having a colonoscopy, do not drink any red fluids or eat red jello.

After Midnight the Day Before Your Procedure

  1. Do not eat or drink (including water, gum, mints, and hard candy) unless you are directed otherwise by your physician or our pre-op calling nurse. Undigested food in the stomach can cause complications and your procedure is likely to be postponed if you do not follow these instructions.
  2. Do not smoke

The Morning of Your Procedure

  1. If you normally take medications for your blood pressure, heart, or seizures, you need to take these as soon as you get up the morning of procedure with a small sip of water.  Your procedure could be delayed if you do not take these medications.
  2. Take a bath or shower and brush your teeth (taking care not to swallow any water).
  3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.  Keep in mind that our center is always kept at a cooler temperature.  During your procedure you will wear a patient gown provided by the center.  We recommend wearing socks to keep your feet warm during the procedure.
  4. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.  We cannot be responsible for their safety.

What to Bring With You to the Outpatient Center

  1. Bring all insurance cards.
  2. Bring a government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license.  Minors do not need ID, but the primary insured party will need theirs.
  3. Bring your form of payment if required.
  4. If you take inhalers for breathing, bring them with you.
  5. If you wear glasses bring a glasses case.  We prefer you remove contact lenses.  If you must wear them bring your storage case.
  6. Please arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to the center, drive you home and stay with you for the first night following your procedure.
  7. Limit the number of people who accompany you to the center.  We suggest that adult patients be accompanied by only one person.
  8. If the patient having the procedure is unable to sign their own paperwork, the center will require the next of kin, power of attorney or healthcare surrogate to be availabl

After Your Procedure

  1. After your procedure, you will be moved to our fully equipped Post Anesthesia Care Unit where our trained recovery room nurses will observe you closely for about 30 minutes until you are ready to go home. 
  2. Your physician will provide instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise and medications.  The center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions before you are discharged. 
  3. If you would like your physician to talk to a family member or significant other, please have them wait in the lobby. 
  4. It is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, therefore the following restrictions will be in place after your procedure for 24 hours:
    • No driving and operating equipment
    • No signing important papers
    • No making of significant decisions
    • No drinking alcoholic beverages

 

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