Before Your Operation

When do I stop eating and drinking prior to the procedure?

The hospital will contact you the day prior with admission and fasting times. Generally, you cannot eat for six hour before surgery. You can drink clear fluids (water, clear apple juice, black tea or coffee) up to two hours before your procedure.

Do I take my regular medications?

Take all your regular medications with a sip of water. It is particularly important for medications relating to blood pressure and control of your heart rhythm (beta blockers).

Blood thinners

There are a large number of blood thinners on the market (aspirin, plavix, xarelto, brillinta, etc.). Each of these works in different ways and we will give you instructions on when to cease them. Please ensure you let us know that you are taking one of these drugs, especially if you are having a procedure.

Warfarin

Warfarin needs to be stopped 5 days before surgery. We start injections of clexane 4 days before surgery with the last one the night before. You will need your INR checked on the day of surgery. An INR of 1.3 or less is acceptable. We will restart clexane and warfarin as soon as possible after surgery. Please discuss this with me if you have questions as the regime is tailored for each patient, depending on their medical problems.

Vitamins, supplements, fish oil, krill oil.

Cease all non prescription medications for two weeks prior to surgery. It is difficult to know what these supplements really contain and what they may do. It is essentially an “evidence free zone”!

Diabetics

Notify my staff as well as the hospital that you are diabetic. We will try and put diabetic patients first on the operating list.

• Take your normal diabetic tablets with a sip of water.
• Take half your normal insulin dose if you are fasting.
• Inform staff at the hospital when you are admitted to ensure that your blood sugar is monitored.

Do I bring my CT scan or ultrasound?

It is essential that you bring your CT scan or ultrasound with you when you come. This is especially important if you are having surgery for stones or cancer surgery on your kidney. It helps me immensely. If you have forgotten your CT or ultrasound please let the nurses know.

Do I need tests prior to my surgery?

For all urological procedures I prefer to have a urine test to ensure that there is no infection. Performing elective urological surgery on patients with infected urine is dangerous. We can perform a quick urine test in the hospital or surgery may be postponed if necessary. If you have not been given a request form to have your urine checked one week prior to surgery please contact my staff.

Our goal

Our goal is to ensure that your procedure goes safely and smoothly and that you feel well informed and understand what is going to happen. Some of the above pointers may help in preparing for surgery. Please contact my staff if you have any questions before surgery. I will also speak to you before and after the procedure.