Surgery Center of Reno - Surgery Preparations

Surgery Preparations

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR SURGERY
It is crucial that you do not eat or drink anything, including water, after midnight, the night before your surgery — unless you are directed to do so by a staff member at the Surgery Center of Reno or your surgeon. Food in the stomach can cause serious complications during anesthesia. This would require the surgeon to cancel or postpone your surgery. Avoid alcohol and tobacco for 24 hours prior to your surgery.

If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, nervous disorders, blood thinners, or aspirin, ask your doctor about these medications and how they relate to your procedure.

For women, if you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, please notify your surgeon immediately. If you develop a cold, fever, respiratory infection or other illness prior to surgery, please call your doctor or the Surgery Center of Reno.

ARRANGE FOR A RIDE AHEAD OF TIME
You will not be allowed to drive yourself home following surgery. Arrange for a responsible friend or family member to drive you home.

The night Before Your SurgerY
Eating, Drinking and Medications
For reasons of safety it is important to limit the intake of food and fluids before anesthesia and surgery.

Infants and Children may have formula or food until midnight. They may also have formula until 6 hours before the time of surgery. Infants who are breast fed may continue to do so until 4 hours before the time of surgery. All infants and children less than 18 months of age may have clear fluids (water, pedialyte, clear fruit juices and sodas only) until 4 hours before the scheduled time of arrival. Children over 18 months of age may eat until midnight of the night before surgery.

Adults may eat their regular diet until midnight. After midnight you must not eat or drink anything.

Patients having a history of heartburn, esophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, gastroparesis or similar conditions which impair gastric emptying should have no solid food after midnight.

Patients, parents and families should be very careful to read, understand and follow these guidelines. Doing so helps to ensure the comfort and safety of all patients.

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in cancellation of the planned surgery for safety reasons. During anesthesia, the presence of food or liquid in the stomach may lead to potentially life threatening pneumonia should the contents enter into your lungs.

Before You Arrive for Surgery
Preoperative health questionnaire
Your treating physician's staff may provide you with a patient health questionnaire. Alternatively, you may download and print the appropriate health questionnaire from our web site. Please fill out and either mail or fax (number is on the form) the health questionnaire to our center as soon as possible. The forms are very important as they help us to plan your care and save you time during your preoperative phone call and on the day of your admission to the center.

Preoperative phone call
One of our nurses will call you prior to your visit, usually one to seven days prior to your surgery. We will confirm your arrival time, provide directions to the Surgery Center of Reno and answer your questions. We will also discuss any health issues indicated on your patient health questionnaire or obtain a health history if you have not already returned your health questionnaire. The preoperative call nurse will also emphasize the importance of adhering to our No Eating and Drinking requirements.

Changes in your health
If you notice a change in your health (i.e., cough, cold, fever, etc.) it is IMPORTANT to notify your physician and the Surgery Center of Reno before your scheduled surgery date. 775.336.6900.

Waiting Times Before Surgery
Our staff at the Surgery Center of Reno, recognize that your time is important. Prolonged waiting before a procedure is both unnerving and inconvenient to you and the people who have accompanied you to our center.

We utilize our computer data and requests of your surgeons/physicians to construct a schedule that attempts to be as efficient as possible. However there are many factors outside of our control that can alter the progression of starting times, resulting in delay or change (even forward) in the time of your procedure.
Example of these factors are:

Prolongation of a surgery before your procedure, whether at our center or another facility where your surgeon might be working.
Prolongation of office duties, delaying your surgeon's arrival.
Emergency procedures that your attending surgeon must address.
Late arrivals of patients who were scheduled before you.
Unanticipated events.

Whenever there is a change in your anticipated procedure starting time, our staff will keep you informed and provide updates. Please be sure to ask our staff if you have any questions regarding your surgical time.

Why do we ask you to come in prior to your surgery time?
We ask that you come in early before surgery to ensure enough time to complete the admission process, admit you to our preoperative area, institute monitoring and intravenous preparation, antibiotic administration (if applicable), and interview by your anesthesiologist and surgeon. We will minimize your waiting time and strive to maintain an efficient surgical schedule. If you do encounter a delay, please let us know what we can do to make your wait more comfortable.

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