It is imperative that you follow these instructions beginning 7 days prior to your surgery.
7 days prior
STOP any blood thinning medications. NSAIDs: Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, Motrin, Excedrin
Aspirin, Ecotrin, Coumadin or Warfarin, Plavix, Trental, Heparin, Lovenox, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Apixaban, Eliquis, Effient Herbal Supplements/Vitamins/Nutritional Supplements:Vitamin E & D, Garlic supplements, Multivitamins, St. Johns Wart, Gingko, Omega-3 and Fish Oil. It is best to stop ALL nutritional supplements
*If any of your blood thinners is prescribed by one of your healthcare providers (especially your cardiologist), please call them to let them know that you need to stop the medication for 7 days. You may need to take another medication in the interim and this is at the discretion of the prescribing provider. If you are not sure if one of your medications is blood thinning, please call the office at 212-241-3919 and ask to speak to a PA.
2 days prior
Do not drink any alcoholic beverages 48 hours before (or after) the surgery.
1 day prior
The day before surgery, please drink one bottle of Magnesium Citrate in the morning (before 11 AM).This can be purchased over the counter at any pharmacy without a prescription. Make sure you can beclose to a bathroom afterwards.
Breakfast & Lunch: Light soft diet. No meat/dairy. Example: light sandwich, oatmeal, rice, mashedpotatoes, scrambled eggs, bananas, peaches, pears, juices, coffee, tea, gelatins, flavored ices, popsicles,broths, chicken noodle soup, hard candy
Dinner: you may only have clear liquids (broth, water, non-pulp juices).Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. You will receive a call from the Admitting Unit after 4 pm the day before you surgery with instructions on what time to arrive. If your surgery is on Monday, you will receive this call on the Friday before your surgery. If for some reason you do not receive this call, please call 212-636-4150.
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT. This includes candy, gum, water,coffee and tea.
Day of Surgery
If you normally take medications in the morning, take them with a very small sip of water the morning ofthe surgery. If you take insulin in the morning, take half of your normal dose. Do not take any pills fordiabetes. Please bring a list of all medications that you take regularly with you to the hospital.If you wear contact lenses or glasses, you must bring a case in which to store them. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. Bring loose fitting clothing such as sweatpants, or pants with an elastic or drawstring waist to wear home the following day.
Hospitalization
The operation lasts 2 – 4 hours and the hospitalization usually lasts 24 hours. You may wake up with anabdominal drain. You may go home with this drain and will be given separate instructions on how to carefor it. You will wake up with a Foley catheter. The Foley catheter will be removed the next day.