We will call you to provide
instructions for surgery and medications prior to surgery. You might also
be scheduled for an appointment in our pre-surgical testing clinic to meet
with our anesthesia team or have bloodwork drawn.
We might request testing from your other physicians.
Call our pre-surgical testing clinic with any
questions: 214-633-4202.
Lifestyle modifications:
We encourage you to stop smoking and consuming alcohol
for one month prior to surgery.
We encourage you to increase your physical activity
prior to surgery.
Eat a balanced, healthy diet, and remain hydrated.
On the night before surgery, do not eat
solid foods after 11 p.m.
Follow any instructions directly from
your surgeon.
You can drink clear liquids (such as
water, Gatorade, or Sprite) up to two hours before your surgery start
time.
Drink either a bottle of water or a 20-oz.
Gatorade on the way to the hospital, at least two hours before your
surgery start time.
In the pre-op area, you will receive
oral non-narcotic pain medications (acetaminophen and gabapentin) to
improve your postoperative pain.
During Surgery
You will receive general anesthesia
and be completely asleep during the procedure.
Your anesthesia team will monitor you
very closely while you are asleep and will insert additional intravenous
(IV) lines or monitors if necessary.
You will receive multiple medications
during surgery to treat pain and nausea.
There will be a specific and tailored
anesthetic protocol to decrease the stress on your body, improve pain
control, and accelerate your recovery.
A nerve block or a catheter for
continuous pain medication might be placed during the procedure. This is
designed to decrease your postoperative pain and need for IV and oral pain
medications.
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and After
You will wake up in our post-anesthesia
care unit (PACU).
You will be asked to chew gum and ice
chips and to drink clear liquids to help with recovery of bowel function.
You will be given an incentive
spirometer to help you to take deep breaths.
Depending on your surgeon and
procedure, you might go home the same day of surgery or be admitted to the
hospital.
Starting on the day of your surgery,
we encourage you to get out of bed and walk with help from your nurse.
Try to increase the distance and frequency of your walks
each day; doing so will help your bowel function return to normal,
prevent deconditioning, and speed up your recovery.
Unless instructed otherwise by your
nurse or surgeon, you will be able to eat a normal diet the day of your
surgery. Continue to chew gum or hard candy as well.
You will take scheduled non-opioid
pain medications during your recovery and have narcotic medications
available for breakthrough pain if necessary.
Concerns About Narcotics
Jennifer
Elia, M.D., addresses concerns about narcotics in conjunction with treating
pain.