Fasting is very important prior to your anaesthetic.
Adults: All food and fluids should be stopped 6 hours prior to anaesthesia (including sweets, lollies and chewing gum). Water only, totalling not more than 200mls per hour can be taken up to 2 hours prior to anaesthesia
Children: Please seek specific instructions from your anaesthetist
If your surgeon or anaesthetist has prescribed you a Dex carbohydrate drink, follow their specific instructions.
In general, all usual prescribed medications should be taken up to and including the day of surgery (with a sip of water if required).
The following medications require specific instructions:
- Blood thinning agents (includes aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran): consult your surgeon
- Diabetic medications (oral and insulin): seek advice from your anaesthetist or diabetic specialist
- Herbal medications/supplements: stop 2 weeks prior to surgery
Smoking should be ceased as early as possible prior to surgery. There are a number of health benefits associated with quitting smoking including improved oxygen to tissues which helps healing, less risk of wound infection, less risk of respiratory complications such as wheezing, coughing and chest infection. The best time for quitting to gain these benefits is 8 weeks prior to surgery.
You should not smoke on the day of your surgery.
If you have been unwell with cold or flu like symptoms, in line with SA Health guidelines please undergo a COVID19 test. Upon a negative COVID19 result, if you are still unsure about proceeding please contact your anaesthetist to discuss whether to continue with your surgery (in most circumstances there should be no problem with continuing).
The Australian Government Vaccination Schedule suggests that you should not have your COVID vaccination in the week prior to your surgery nor in the week following your surgery. Should you have concerns about the timing of your vaccination, or surgery, please discuss this with your surgeon.
To be discharged home on the same day of surgery the minimum requirements are necessary:
- You are medically fit with low risk of complications and have demonstrated an ability to understand post operative instructions.
- You have a responsible adult to accompany you home who can stay overnight.
- Transport home must be suitable (ie. not by bus/train or driving yourself).
- You have ready access to a telephone and do not live more than one (1) hour from medical care.
Please bring your identity card to hospital with you. Advise your anaesthetist if you have an implantable defibrillator well in advance of surgery. In most situations arrangements will need to be made with the device technician to have this deactivated for the duration of the planned surgery.