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FAQ Sheet

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which medications does my patient need to stop prior to surgery?
  • Anesthesia recommends that patients stop taking ALL diet and herbal medications 2 weeks prior to surgery.
  • ACE Inhibitors/ARBs should be held on the day of surgery, but patient should bring the medication with them in the original vial on the day of surgery. (examples: Lisinopril, Enalapril, Diovan, Cozaar)
  • Patients are instructed to hold all oral diabetic medications the MORNING OF SURGERY unless otherwise instructed by surgeon. Those patients taking injectable insulin should take 1/2 of their usual dose the morning of surgery, and a blood sugar will be drawn on arrival.
  • If your patient takes blood thinners, the prescribing physician and/or surgeon should instruct patient when to stop these medications prior to surgery.

**PLEASE NOTE: Beta Blockers should be continued on day of surgery (examples: metoprolol, Coreg, propranolol).

 

What happens if my patient's labs/imaging are abnormal?

The pre-assessment nurse that has been assigned to the patient will fax all abnormal labs/imaging and call you to ensure that your surgeon is aware of these abnormalities and to inquire what the plan will be to address the abnormalities if something requires resolution prior to surgery. If labs need to be repeated DOS, an order will need to be sent to pre-assessment or entered into EPIC.

 

Current Anesthesia guidelines allow patients to have clear liquids up to 4 hours prior to surgery. What is considered a clear liquid?

  • Water
  • Fruit juice without pulp such as apple, grape, or cranberry
  • Tea/coffee without milk or cream (may add sugar)
  • Yellow or clear Gatorade (please do not use red or blue)
  • Clear, fat-free broth (Boullion or Consommé)
  • Jell-O (light colors)
  • Clear sodas (Ginger Ale, Sprite, 7-Up)
  • No chewing tobacco, gum, mints, or hard candy is allowed 4 hours prior to surgery.

 

Can my patient take a cab or Uber home from surgery?

Methodist policy states that surgery patients MUST be accompanied home by an adult 18 years of age or older to ensure that they arrive safely. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE will a patient who has undergone a general anesthetic be allowed to drive himself or herself home. We strongly urge patients to avoid tasks that require skill, coordination, or judgement, such as driving, operating machinery, or making important decisions, for 24 hours after discharge. We also recommend that you have an adult stay with your patient overnight.

 

Who confirms the arrival times for patients?

ALL times are confirmed by SURGEON OFFICE staff. Because times change so frequently, pre-assessment will ALWAYS refer the patient back to the surgeons' office to confirm surgery time and arrival time.

 

Can my patient have labs/imaging done on the morning of surgery?

If at all possible, Anesthesia recommends that all labs/imaging be done ASAP after the decision for surgery has been made, as some patients with abnormal results may require days, if not weeks, for optimization prior to surgery. If the labs/imaging MUST be done on the day of surgery, abnormalities could result in delay or cancellation of surgery.

 

Will there be a safe place for my patient's valuables during surgery?

Patients are encouraged to leave ALL valuables at home or to give valuables to a friend or family member that can keep up with the belongings until after surgery.

 

What special precautions should we take with sleep apnea patients?

Patients with sleep apnea are at an increased risk for postoperative apnea and airway obstruction. In pre-assessment and on the day of surgery, our nursing staff routinely screens patients for sleep apnea using the STOP-BANG assessment tool. This identifies patients at risk for having sleep apnea and can easily be performed in your office in advance of surgery. Ideally, those patients who are at high risk for sleep apnea should be referred for a sleep study and possible treatment before surgery.

 

We realize that some patients may not be able to arrange sleep testing prior to their surgery due to scheduling constraints. In the vast majority of cases we will not delay their surgery waiting on the results of the sleep study. Nonetheless, your patient's overall future health will be improved by treatment. Untreated OSA patients may be kept longer in PACU and may need to remain in the hospital overnight for monitoring in the event of obstructive events in the PACU. For safety, it will be necessary to have someone stay with an OSA patient if they are discharged home on the day of surgery. 

In the event that your patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and they wear a CPAP, we ask that they bring the machine in with them on the day of surgery. Upon discharge the patient should wear their CPAP while sleeping.