Preparing for Surgery & Pre-surgery Checklist

Preparing for Surgery

Once you and your doctor decide that surgery will help you, you will need to learn what to expect from the surgery and create a treatment plan for the best results afterward. Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working with Your Doctor

Before surgery, your doctor will perform a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or the outcomes. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed a week before any major surgery.

  • Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery
  • If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your new joint. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery
  • If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or warfarin or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding
  • If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
  • Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later
  • Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron
  • Report any infections to your surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up
  • Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry
  • Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often
  • Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls
  • Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms

Pre-surgery Checklist

  1. Medical Clearance
    You will have to see an Internal Medicine or Family Practice Doctor to be cleared for your surgery. In addition to this you may need to see other Medical Subspecialists. All of these consultations must be completed 7 days prior to your scheduled date of surgery. Please schedule all of these appointments at least 3-4 weeks prior to your scheduled date of surgery.
  2. X-rays
    Chest X-ray
    Hip or Knee X-rays
  3. Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  4. Blood Testing
  5. Urinalysis and Urine Culture of Sensitivity
  6. Total Joint Education Classes
    It is highly recommended that you attend this class if possible.
  7. Update insurance information with the office to ensure proper pre-authorization.
  8. Stopping medications/supplements prior to surgery.

It is important that you provide Dr. Drucker with a complete list of your medications and supplements. Some of these can thin your blood. They must be stopped prior to surgery so not to have unnecessary bleeding. Dr. Drucker will review your list and if needed will tell you which medicine(s) and/or supplements need to be stopped, and when to stop them.