Are there tips to follow before having surgery

"Thirty-five million Americans undergo surgery every year. Preparing yourself physically is very important for a successful surgical outcome," says Kenneth Green, MD, a surgeon with Baptist Surgical Associates in La Grange.

In the weeks before your surgery, you should:

• Stop smoking and avoid excessive alcohol.
• Eat a well-balanced diet including plenty of vitamin C-rich foods, which may help promote tissue healing.
• Avoid aspirin or other aspirin-like medications that interfere with blood clotting for seven days prior to your surgery.
• Exercise regularly to build energy, and maintain strength.
• Ready your home, including preparing food and rearranging furniture if necessary.
• If you have children to take care of, arrange for someone else to take care of them while you are in the hospital.

If you decide to have surgery, discuss all of the following with your doctor:

• Determine when elective surgery can be scheduled, taking into consideration your job and family commitments.
• Learn which routine laboratory tests may be needed, which may include X-rays, blood tests, and urine tests and an electrocardiogram.
• Ask if you need to change the schedule and dosage of any medications you are taking.
• If you have diabetes, discuss how to keep your insulin levels under control right after surgery when you are not eating.

"Generally, outpatient surgery is appropriate for simple procedures that can be done in 60 to 90 minutes and don’t require a person to be closely monitored afterwards. However, if a large incision has to be made, or if the risk of complication is high, same-day surgery may not be an option," Dr. Green adds.