FASTING BEFORE SURGERY

Minimum 6 to 8 hours fasting is advised before surgery to ensure that the stomach is empty as this will minimize any undigested food and liquid from entering the lungs, as the normal protective reflexes do not function once you are anaesthetized. FASTING means no intake of food, pan, tobacco, water or liquids. It is very important to follow these instructions exactly.

ON THE MORNING OF SURGERY

• Remain fasting
• Remove all make up and nail polish.
• Remove contact lenses, dentures and all jewellery. Most hospitals insist on this. If your nose ring or ear studs are stuck, ensure their removal before hand.

PRE OPERATIVE PREPARATIONS

• Prior to surgery an intravenous catheter will be inserted in your arm, so that medications and needed fluid solutions may be administered with ease.
• The surgical site will be cleaned and will also be shaved. It is necessary to shave a much wider area than the incision will occupy in order to ensure surgical sterility. Thus the whole head is shaved for a brain operation, the entire abdomen and lower limbs till knee is shaved for a uterus surgery and an entire extremity may be shaved for surgery in that area
• Once you are in the operation theatre monitoring devices will be placed on your body and a screen put up, to isolate your face from the rest of the body.