Surgery Preparation

One Month Prior to Surgery

Depending on your medical condition, you may be required to obtain medical and/or cardiac clearance for your surgery. Please arrange for your primary care provider (PCP) to perform an EKG and any other testing deemed necessary to clear you for surgery. The testing should be performed two to four weeks prior to surgery. Your PCP should fax test results to: 540-720-7341.

Pre Admission Testing

Pre-Admission testing must be completed at least one week prior to your surgery but no more than two weeks prior. Failure to complete these steps may result in a delay or cancellation of your surgery.

  1. Call centralized scheduling to pre-register and schedule a nurse interview. (540)741-2000
  2. Labs/EKG: Go to Pre-Admission at the hospital and give them your folder of paperwork (from your physician). Registration will guide you where you need to go for your testing.
    • Stafford Hospital Center: 540-741-9003
    • Mary Washington Hospital: 540-741-4669
    • Anesthesia Questionnaire: In your folder of paperwork (from your physician) fill out the top portion of the “Anesthetic Health Questionnaire” and place it back in your folder for registration.

Leg Stretches

Some patients experience discomfort in their legs and/or buttocks from positioning during surgery. To help minimize discomfort, we encourage you to stretch your legs each time you get in or out of bed for one month before surgery. While lying in bed, one leg at a time, simply bend your knee at a 90 degree angle, then pull your knee toward your ear and hold this position for a few seconds.

7 Days Prior to Your Surgery

Discontinue use of the following medications that have anticoagulant (blood thinning) properties seven days prior to surgery:

  • NSAIDs including but not limited to Ibuprofen®, Advil®, Aleve®, Motrin®, Celebrex®
  • Aspirin products including but not limited to Excedrin®
  • Anticoagulants including but not limited to Plavix®, Coumadin®, and Vitamin E
  • Herbal medications (all kinds)

When You Should Report To The Hospital

You must arrive 2 hours prior to your scheduled surgery time.

The Night Before Your Surgery

  • Do not eat any solid food after midnight the evening before your surgery. (You may have clear liquids until midnight)
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. Your surgery may be cancelled if you do. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow.
  • You may have a sip of water to take your regular medications (not those which you have been instructed to discontinue)

Rectal Preparations

A rectal preparation is required for your surgery. Rectal Preparation: 1 Day Prior to Surgery Purchase two of the Fleet ® enemas (green box) from any drugstore. At noon, the day before surgery, take two tablespoons of milk of magnesia. Take one Fleet enema as directed on the box before bedtime the night before your surgery. Take the second enema 2-3 hours before your scheduled surgery time.

Bowel Preparations

Bowel Preparation: 2 Days Prior to Surgery 48 hours before surgery, you will begin a surgical bowel prep by consuming a full liquid diet. For example, milk, pudding, ice cream, yogurt, may be consumed, but they must not contain solids such as fruit or nuts. Bowel Preparation: 1 Day Prior to Surgery 24 hours before surgery, you will begin a clear liquid diet. This includes liquids you can see through. For example, Jell-O® Gatorade®, Broth, Ginger Ale, 7UP®, and apple juice may be consumed. Between 2p.m. and 3p.m. the day before surgery, you must drink a 5 oz. bottle of magnesium citrate. You can purchase this in different flavors at any drugstore. Chill for better taste. Your stool should become watery. This is not so much about evacuation as we are looking for decompression.

Hospital Stay

Most of our patients have outpatient surgery or a brief one or two day hospitalization. We encourage you to return to your home environment as soon as possible. It is there that you will sleep and eat better, which is very important to your recovery.