Pre-Op Instructions For Hospital Foot Surgery

©1999 by Seth A. Rubenstein, D.P.M.

1. You are scheduled for surgery as follows:
   
   Date:______________________________________________________
   
   Time:______________________________________________________
   
   Location:___________________________________________________
   
   Notes:_____________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   
   Reminder--For hospital based surgery, please be at the hospital one hour before the scheduled surgery time. For office based surgery, please arrive at the scheduled time, not before.
   
   
2. No Food--Do not eat or drink for eight hours before the time of surgery unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
   
   
3. Wash The Night Before--The night before surgery wash the foot well with soap and water. Remove all nail polish prior to the day of surgery. Do not shave any hair at the surgical site.
   
   
4. No Aspirin/Ibuprofen For A Week Before--If you are on any medications, please take them as usual the day of surgery unless instructed by the doctor. However, you should stop taking aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (Motrin, etc.), seven days before surgery. You can take Tylenol for pain before the surgery.
   
   
5. History, Physical, and Blood Work--For hospital based surgery, you will need to obtain a history and physical from your family doctor within 1 week prior to the date of surgery. You will also need blood work prior to surgery. This may be performed by your family doctor or by the hospital.
   
   
6. No Driving--Please make arrangements to be driven home from the hospital. Intravenous sedation is used which may make you too groggy to drive.
   In addition, after some types of foot surgery, you may not be permitted to drive for several weeks.
   
   
7. Crutches/Walker--If instructed by our office, bring crutches or a walker if available. If you do not have crutches, they can be provided by the hospital on the day of the surgery.
   
   
8. Travel Plans--Please discuss with the doctor any travel plans scheduled for the period after surgery. If you have unavoidable travel plans for this period, the doctor may recommend postponing the surgery.
   
   
9. Personal Property--Leave all jewelry, money, and credit cards at home or give them to a companion.
   
   
10. Eyeglasses--If eyeglasses are required for reading, bring them, as they will be needed to read the surgical consent. DO NOT WEAR CONTACT LENSES.
    
    
11. Prescriptions--Please have your post-operative prescriptions filled BEFORE the surgical date to avoid unnecessary delays in starting the medications.
    
    < Back to Surgical Instructions main page