Pre-Anesthesia Instructions
You are scheduled for surgery or a procedure on:
Check-in time:
Surgery time:
Your surgeon's name is:
Your primary surgical oncology clinic nurse is:
If you have not been given your check-in and surgery times by 2 p.m. on the business day before your surgery, call 720.848.1258 between 2 and 4 p.m. For example, call on Monday afternoon before a Tuesday surgery or on Friday afternoon before a Monday surgery.
After 4 p.m., please call 720.848.6070. Times for surgery can sometimes change. If this happens, you will get a call with the new time.
Where to go on the day of surgery:
When to stop eating and drinking before surgery:
After 11 p.m. the night before surgery: Do not eat solid foods and do not drink non-clear liquids. No food, candy, dairy products, smoothies, juice with pulp).
Do not have any alcohol, smoke, chew tobacco, use e-cigarettes, vape or use marijuana products or recreational drugs 24 hours before the day of surgery.
You may have clear liquids up to 2 hours before your arrival time: Clear liquids that are OK to have:
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Water
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Clear drinks with electrolytes (such as BOOST Breeze, Ensure Clear, Gatorade or Vitaminwater)
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Black coffee or tea (without milk, creamer or nondairy creamer).
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Apple juice or cranberry juice (no juice with pulp).
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Clear gelatin such as Jell-O (no whipped cream or pieces of fruit).
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Clear broth (such as bouillon cubes or low-fat or nonfat broth).
The morning of surgery:
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Any time the morning of surgery: Take the medicines you have been told to take with a sip of water.
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Drinking an electrolyte drink before you get to the hospital is a good idea. Patients who are well-hydrated are less likely to have nausea or vomit after surgery.
Make sure you understand these instructions for eating and drinking before surgery.
If your surgeon has given you different instructions (such as a bowel prep the day before surgery), please follow their instructions carefully.
Preoperative medicine instructions:
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Take only the medicines you have been told to take.
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See the list of medicines you should not take before surgery.
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The medicines you told us you take that should be stopped before your surgery include:
If the UCHealth pre-procedure services department (pre-anesthesia) needs to see you before surgery, they will contact you directly. The "Pre-Procedure and Health Screenings" form you filled out will be sent to them to look at and they will decide if an appointment is needed.
Preoperative shower instructions: How to help prevent infections.
For 3 days before surgery: Do not shave or have hair removed on the area of the body where your surgery is planned.
The night before surgery:
The morning of surgery: Take a shower:
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Use a new bar of soap (this can be the same bar as last night).
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Use a clean washcloth (this cannot be the same cloth as last night).
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Dry off with a clean towel (this cannot be the same towel as last night).
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Do not use body wash or gel. Use only a bar of soap.
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Do not use a "loofa" (dried sponge used to scrub the body).
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Do not use any lotion or other body products after your shower.
Getting ready for the hospital:
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You must have a ride home. If you are planning to go home the same day as your surgery or procedure, make sure to have a responsible family member or friend who can take you home. It is recommended (and may be required) for you to have someone stay with you overnight after you leave the hospital.
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Insurance information: For questions about your insurance or co-pay, please call insurance verification at 720.848.7891 (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) 1 to 2 business days before your surgery.
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If you feel sick before surgery: If you have symptoms of a cold, fever, upset stomach or loss of taste or smell, call your surgeon's office and let them know at 720.848.3532. If this happens the day before surgery after hours (when the surgeon's office is closed) call 720.848.0000 and ask for the resident for the *** surgery service.
Before leaving for the hospital:
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Brush your teeth.
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Take any medicines you have been told to take with a sip of water.
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Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing that will be easy for you to put on after your procedure.
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If your nails are polished, keep 1 finger free of nail polish and artificial nails.
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Leave valuables and jewelry at home (including wedding rings).
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If you have any body piercings, remove them all and leave them at home.
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Keep your face and body free of makeup, perfume and lotion.
What to bring to the hospital:
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A case for your glasses, dentures or hearing aids. Do not wear contact lenses.
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Your insurance card, a photo ID and pharmacy card (if you have one).
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A way to pay for your co-pay and any medicines you are prescribed.
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If you have sleep apnea: Bring your CPAP or BiPAP mask to the hospital. If you are planning to stay overnight at the hospital, also bring your machine.
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If you use oxygen at home, bring your portable oxygen with you to the hospital.
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If you are planning a longer hospital stay and will be packing a suitcase, please leave it in the car until you have a room assignment. The room number will be given to your visitor or support person after surgery.
When you arrive at the hospital:
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Plan to check in by the time you were told.
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Self-parking: You may park at any visitor parking lot around the hospital (see map below).
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Valet parking: For your convenience, we also have free valet services for patients and visitors in front of the Inpatient and the Outpatient Pavilions. Our valet hours are:
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UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion valet hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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UCHealth Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion valet hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Emergency department 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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If you need to get your car after the valet is closed, the post-op staff will call security to get your keys.
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UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is a nonsmoking facility. No smoking or vaping is allowed anywhere on the medical campus.
What to expect in the pre-op area:
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When you are in the pre-op area getting ready for your surgery, you will be given a temperature-controlled blanket. This will help keep you comfortable, and it can lower your risk for postoperative infection, help with wound healing and may shorten how long you stay in the hospital.
Visitors:
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Rules for visitors are for the safety of our patients, providers and staff. Please follow these hospital restrictions:
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Visitors must be at least 12 years old during flu season (from November to April).
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Patients and visitors who have COVID-19, recent close contact with someone with COVID-19, or symptoms of COVID-19 including new fever, cough or other cold or flu-like symptoms, should not come into our facilities unless they are getting medical care.
There are other rules for visitors in different parts of the hospital:
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Pre-op waiting area: Each patient can have 2 people (of any age) with them. Visitors can wait in the waiting room while the patient is in surgery.
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Presurgical area: 2 support people (of any age) may be with the patient.
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Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU): 2 visitors are allowed, but they must be over 16 years old. Younger children can be in the waiting room with an adult.
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Inpatient hospital room: 2 visitors may visit in the room during visiting hours, from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day.
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1 visitor per patient is allowed in the building overnight. If you leave, you will not be allowed to re-enter the hospital.
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The parent or guardian of a pediatric or special needs patient must always stay with them in the hospital. Do not bring other children.
Service animal policy:
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Service animals are allowed in the hospital. This means dogs or miniature horses who are trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
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Other animals are not allowed in the hospital.
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Service animals can go with the patient to the surgical waiting room and can be in the patient's inpatient room.
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Service animals cannot be in restricted areas, which includes sterile areas, rooms where sterile procedures are taking place, units with restricted access, and food and medicine preparation areas.
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The patient or guardian must choose a handler (family, friend or guardian) to take care of the service animal's needs (food, going outside, etc.) during the hospital stay.
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The service animal must be always in the control of the handler.
How to use an incentive spirometer.
Start using the incentive spirometer (IS) today and use it each day. Each hour, do 10 to 15 repetitions. Use the incentive spirometer until your hospital admission. Keep using it while you are in the hospital and at home after discharge from the hospital.
What is an incentive spirometer?
An incentive spirometer (IS) is a device that measures how deeply you can inhale (breathe in). It helps you take slow, deep breaths to expand and fill your lungs with air. This helps prevent lung problems, such as pneumonia. The IS has a breathing tube, an air chamber and an indicator. The breathing tube is connected to the air chamber and has a mouthpiece at the end. The indicator is found inside the device.
Why do I need to use an incentive spirometer?
An incentive spirometer is often used after surgery. People with a higher risk of airway or breathing problems may also use one. These include people who smoke or have lung disease and people who are not active or cannot move well.
How do I use an incentive spirometer?
Sit up as straight as you can. Do not bend your head forward or backward. Hold the incentive spirometer in an upright position. Place the target pointer to the level that you need to reach. Exhale (breathe out) normally and follow these steps:
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Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips tightly around it. Do not block the mouthpiece with your tongue.
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Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece to raise the indicator. Try to make the indicator rise up to the level of the target pointer.
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When you cannot inhale any longer, remove the mouthpiece and hold your breath for at least 3 seconds.
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Exhale (breathe out) normally.
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Repeat these steps 10 to 15 times every hour when you are awake, or as often as you are told to.
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Clean the mouthpiece with soap and water after each use. Do not use a disposable mouthpiece for longer than 24 hours.
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Keep a log of the highest level you can reach each time. This will help your providers see if your lung function gets better.
When should I contact my caregiver (doctor)?
Contact your provider if:
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You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
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You have a wound that is painful every time you breathe deeply.
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You have questions or concerns about how to use your IS.
Get medical care right away or call 911 if:
Your care agreement:
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and the ways it can be treated. Talk about your treatment options with your providers to decide what care you want to get. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
©2023, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora
December 2023
Gen pre op anes instruct_Surg