Current Patients:

Pre-Operative Instructions - Before Your Surgery

Medication:

Medication You MAY Take Day of Surgery:

  • Take half of your insulin dose
  • Heart Pills
  • Blood Pressure Pills
  • Seizure Pills

Medication You May NOT Take Day of Surgery:

  • Water Pills
  • Diabetic Pills
  • Aspirin (stop 30 days prior to surgery)
  • Coumadin (generally stop seven days prior to surgery – this must be cleared by the prescribing physician)
  • Bring all medications in their labeled containers with you the day of surgery.
  • DO NOT take aspirin or aspirin products within 30 days prior to your surgery date to reduce the risk of excess bleeding.
  • Do not take motrin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 30 days prior to surgery. Do not take coumadin or warfarin for seven days prior to your surgery. As noted above, you need to discuss stopping of coumadin/warfarin with your prescribing doctor.
  • Stop using certain herbal remedies for 30 days before surgery such as Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, vitamin E and garlic supplements because they can also increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
  • If you have taken any of these or if you have any other concerns, contact your surgeon's office.

Pre-Operative Testing:

Once you have scheduled your surgery, the next step is to schedule your pre-operative testing. This generally consists of a chest X-ray, blood work and an EKG, which is an electrical picture of your heart. This pre-operative testing needs to be done no more than six weeks prior to your surgery date and preferably at UVa.

Diet:

  • The day before your surgery:
    • Follow a clear liquid diet.
    • Drink a bottle of Citrate of Magnesia at 9:00 a.m. and do a Fleet’s enema at 5 p.m.
    • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid dairy products the day prior to surgery
  • DO NOT eat or drink anything after MIDNIGHT the night before surgery (including water, juice, coffee, chewing gum or lifesavers).
  • If you are told to arrive after 1:00 p.m. on the day of your surgery, then you may consume clear liquids until 7:00 a.m. on the day of your surgery.
  • NO alcoholic beverages 48 hours before or after surgery.

Other Preparation:

  • Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. If you wear contact lenses, glasses, or false teeth, please bring your case to store them in during surgery.
  • It is recommended that you start doing Kegel exercises six to eight weeks prior to surgery.

Arrival Time:

  • Perioperative Services will call you the working day before your scheduled surgery between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. with the time of your surgery and remind you of last minute instructions. If you will be at a different phone number (e.g. local hotel) please let the nurse practitioner know the number at the time of your pre-operative screening, which takes place on a date prior to surgery.
  • If you do not receive a call, please call Perioperative Services at 434-924-1248.
  • First cases of the day will normally be asked to arrive at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. (8:00 a.m. on Wednesday).

Private Rooms:

If you would like to request a private room, Dr. Steers' patients should contact Pat Eagle at 434-924-9107. Dr. Theodorescu's patients may contact Georgene Nelson at 434-924-0042. Requests for private rooms cannot always be granted due to limited availability.