Preparation
Preparation for anaesthesia and surgery can improve your overall experience. Your general health and fitness is extremely important to make your recovery as fast as possible, and reduce the risk of complications.
Things that can help prior to your surgery are:
Stopping smoking as soon as possible. Stopping for as little as 12 hours before surgery will reduce risks, however the best benefits are seen by those who have stopped for longer.
Engaging in physical activity such as walking or swimming to improve your fitness.
Minimise alcohol consumption on the evening before your procedure.
If you are going home on the same day as your procedure please ensure you have a responsible person to take you home and stay overnight with you, so they can contact others for assistance should the need arise.
You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or engage in activities that require a high degree of concentration or physical precision until the day after the procedure.
Medications
Please bring all of your medications with you to the hospital.
If you have a written list of your medications please ensure it is up to date, and bring it as well.
Most medications can be safely continued as normal, including on the day of surgery, unless instructed otherwise by your proceduralist.
Some specific exceptions are:
Blood thinning medications
You should seek specific advice from your surgeon or proceduralist about whether these need to be stopped for a period of time around the operation. Sometimes alternative medications may also be required.
Diabetic medications
If you have diabetes and take tablets alone for management of blood sugars, you should not take these medications on the day of your procedure.
If you have diabetes and take insulin injections, please ensure your endocrinologist is aware you are having surgery so they can help you modify your insulin doses around the time of surgery.
Fasting
Fasting is important prior to any form of surgery and anaesthesia.
If your procedure is in the morning
Please do not eat anything after midnight. You may drink water up until 2 hours prior to the time you have been asked to arrive at the hospital.
If your procedure is in the afternoon
Please do not eat anything after 6am. You may drink water up until 2 hours prior to the time you have been asked to arrive at the hospital.
If you are undergoing an endoscopy procedure you will have received specific instructions from your proceduralist.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
If you have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) please ensure you contact us before your procedure.
Some patients with OSA will require admission to a high dependency unit (HDU) or intensive care unit (ICU) following surgery.
If you use a CPAP machine please ensure it is working well, use it regularly prior to surgery, and bring it to hospital with you.