Preparing for Your Surgery:
​A Timeline Checklist​

From helping you get ready for surgery to supporting your recovery, we are here to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Our goal is to ensure you feel informed, comfortable, and cared for every step of the way. No matter how minor your surgery might be, we understand the planning that goes into every stage: before, the day of, and after your procedure. 

We hope this Timeline Checklist of what to expect, and what tasks you will need to perform, leading up to and after your surgery will be helpful. Should you have any questions along the way, please feel free to call us.
​
​                                                                          For a printable copy, click HERE
Preparing for Your Surgery: A Timeline Checklist
6-8 Weeks Before Surgery

​Stop or Decrease Smoking
  • Smoking is strongly correlated with post-operative complications including delayed healing and increased risk of infection.
  • Stop or decrease smoking prior to surgery will decrease your risk of having a poor surgical outcome.
  • Discuss options with your family doctor, pharmacist, call 8-1-1 or visit websites such as www.quitnow.ca
Optimize Your Health
  • Optimizing your health before surgery will make for an easier recovery. 
  • Start a surgical prehab program. Stretching, balance, mobility. Most physiotherapists offer pre-hab so call your local physiotherapy clinic. For total hip or knee physio, FH has resources available to you: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/Service-Directory/Service-at-Location/D/7/Hip-and-Knee-Arthroplasty-Rehabilitation---Surrey
  • Get moving, even a 15-20 min walk every day helps!
  • Ensure you are eating a healthy diet of protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Eliminate fast food and sugary drinks.
Address Other Health Concerns ​
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, or any other chronic health conditions, work with your family doctor to ensure your condition is stable and under control to lessen the chance of complications from surgery or anesthetic.
  • Schedule time to see your specialist if need be (Cardiologist, rheumatologist)
​Connect With Your Employer or School
  • This is a good time to let your employer know how much time you will need off work to recover and/or if you will need to change work duties after surgery. 
  • If you are a post-secondary student, connect with your college/university student accommodations department and speak to your instructors. They can be helpful for re-scheduling exams, allowing for late entry to classes due to mobility issues, and online access to lectures.
  • If you are unsure how much time off and your recovery will take, please call our office.
4 Weeks Before Surgery
Day of Surgery Help and Driving
  • Secure a family member or friend to drive you to and from the hospital on the day of your surgery.
  • You MUST have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. If you live alone arrange to have someone stay with you to help with food, cleaning, mobility and pain management.
Order any post-operative splints, braces, or devices recommended or prescribed by your surgeon
  • If you need a brace or device (such as crutches, shower chair, etc.) after surgery your surgeon will let you know.
  • Most knee surgeries benefit from ice therapy. You will be provided a prescription for an ice therapy machine which can be rented or purchased at a medical supply rental store or pharmacies. 
  • Ossur Motion Lab is across the street from SMH at: Suite 1207-13737 96 Avenue. Phone: 604-242-0203 for appointment.
  • Regular ice packs can be purchased at most pharmacies and retailers.
​Ensure you have enough prescription medications and non-prescription pain medicine
  • Most patients are recommended to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and/or Advil (ibuprophen) after surgery so this is good to have on hand. 
  • Your surgeon will give you a prescription for stronger pain medication on the day of your surgery if required. 
2-4 Weeks Before Surgery
Purchase TWO Chlorhexidine 4% sponges, body soap or TWO packages of Chlorhexidine 4% Body Wipes
  • You will be instructed to wash with chlorhexidine the night before and morning of your surgery to help prevent infection.
  • Do not shave around your surgical site for 7-10 days prior to your surgery.
Notify Your Surgeon if You Have the Following
 
*We know you have waited a long time for your surgery but our priority is your safety. You will NOT be put to the back of the list if your health changes. We will schedule your surgery for as soon as possible when your health situation is stable.
  • ANY infection, pneumonia or productive cough, urinary tract infection, recent tooth infection, wound that is not healing or near where you will have surgery.
  • Changes in any chronic health conditions such as chest pain, uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled blood sugars.
3-7 Days Before Surgery
Receive Call from Pre-Admission Clinic
You may receive a call from the hospital pre-admission clinic to confirm your surgery date. They will ask you some questions about your general health and let you know if you need to speak with an anesthesiologist prior to your surgery.
​Packing List for Surgery Day
  • Ensure you have enough of your regular medications at home, as well as over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil on hand
  • Learn how to use any equipment you need such as an ice machine. Put any ice packs in the freezer.
  • Have enough pillows on hand as you will need to elevate your arm or leg after surgery. 
  • Bring your BC Health Services Card
  • Bring a list of all medications and vitamins/supplements you take.
  • Glasses. NO contact lenses (you will be asked to remove them).
  • Hearing Aids (Usually are required to be removed but you can ask the anesthesiologist on day of surgery) (LABEL case, please). If you will be staying in hospital bringing extra batteries is a good idea.
  • Case for dentures (LABEL please)
  • CPAP machine if you use it at home. (LABEL please.)
  • Plan what to wear. Loose, stretchy clothes for going home. Shorts for leg surgeries and button up shirt or blouse for arm/hand surgery.
  • Slip on/off sturdy shoes
  • There can be lots of waiting so a book is good to pass the time.
​If You Are Staying Overnight in Hospital Your Surgeon Will Let You Know How Long
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream/razor, sanitary products.
  • Non-slip slippers or sneakers.
  • Brace, cane, walker (LABEL please)
Do NOT Bring or Wear
 
*Unfortunately, theft occurs all too frequently at all health care facilities so please leave any and all valuables at home. Ask a family member to bring/take home items as needed.
  • Makeup including lash extensions *Your eyelids are taped shut during surgery so not good for expensive lashes!
  • No nail polish/acrylic nails. 
  • *If you learned of your surgery date last minute, please try to have one nail on each hand free of polish or gel tip.
  • NO acrylic nails or polish if you are having hand surgery.
  • Please remove ALL jewelry and/or body piercings. This is for your safety and the safety of staff as electricity is used during surgery for equipment and can cause electric shock if comes in contact with metals.
  • Only fabric or plastic hair elastics. No metal clips or bobby pins.
The Night Before Surgery
​Pre-op Shower #1
  • Shower with 4% chlorhexidine sponges or wipes (can be bought from the pharmacy behind the counter) *See instructions below.
  • This is a good time to remove all piercings and jewelry.
​Fasting
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING after midnight the night before your surgery
  • This is for your safety.
  • If you eat or drink anything after midnight your surgery will be cancelled.
  • Review all instructions including:
  • What medications you can or cannot take the morning of your surgery. Where you need to be for your surgery (Surrey Memorial Hospital, Jim Pattison Outpatient Care & Surgery Centre, other.
  • What time you need to be there. 
  • Where your ride will park.
  • What equipment to bring such as CPAP, crutches.
                                        Chlorhexidine Pre-op Shower
  • Do not shave the area where you will have surgery 7-10 days before your surgery. Shaving with a razor can make it easier for you to develop an infection after surgery.
  • Wash your face and hair with your normal soap and shampoo and rinse.
  • Turn off water before using CHG soap or sponge. 
  • Do not use the CHG soap on your face, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or private areas. Do not put on any wounds or deep scrapes. If exposed, rinse right away.
  • Do not scrub your skin too hard.
  • Do not wash with your normal soap after the CHG soap.
  • Do not put on any deodorants, lotions, or oils after showering. These might block how the CHG soap works.
  • Use a clean washcloth to wash your skin with the CHG soap. Use enough CHG soap to cover the skin on your entire body from the jaw down in this order:
  1. Neck, chest, and abdomen
  2. Right shoulder, arm, hand, and under arm
  3. Left shoulder, arm, hand, and under arm
  4. Right leg and foot
  5. Left leg and foot
  6. Back of neck and back
  7. Between legs and groin
  8. Bottom
Leave on your skin for 2 minutes.
  • Rinse your body well.
  • Pat yourself dry with a clean, soft towel.
  • Put on clean clothing and sleep on fresh, clean sheets on your bed after your CHG shower.
Chlorhexidine Body Wipes
If you are using chlorhexidine body wipes instead of a sponge/body wash:
  • Use one washcloth for each area of the body
  • Start with your neck and work your way down your body with a new cloth as per above.
  • Do not rinse.
The Day of Surgery
Pre-op Shower #2
Shower with 4% chlorhexidine sponges or wipes (can be bought from the pharmacy behind the counter) *See instructions above
Medications
Take your allowed medications with sips of plain water.
                                                        Medications

Most medications can be safely taken prior to surgery, however, some medications can cause complications and should be stopped before you have your surgery. 
Your surgeon, anesthesiologist and pre-admission clinic nurse will advise you on which medications we would like you to stop before surgery. 
The below are medications you may and not take on the DAY of your surgery, unless you are told otherwise.
Please STOP all vitamins and supplements 7 days prior to your surgery.
​Medication Type
**Blood Thinners
​
Medication Name
Clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Heparin, dabigatran (Pradaxa), ticlopidine (Ticlid)
Do I stop?  When to Take?
***If you take ANY of these please contact your surgeon, family doctor and/or cardiologist
​Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) (for pain, arthritis)
​Ibuprofen (Advil), Diclofenac (Voltaren, Atrthrotec), celecoxib(Celebrex),meloxicam (Mobicox), naproxen (Aleve), indomethacin (Indocid)
​DO NOT take on day of surgery
​ACE Inhibitors (for blood pressure/heart)
​Ramipril, captopril, enalapril, rosinopril, cilazapril, trandopril (may be others)
DO NOT take on day of surgery
​Diuretics (water pill)
​Furosemide (Laxix), spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide
DO NOT take on day of surgery
Beta Blockers
​
​Metoprolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, acebutalol, atenolol, labetalol, propranolol, sotalol (may be others)
 TAKE on day of surgery
​Oral Hypoglycemics (for diabetes)
​Metformin, glyburide, rosiglitiazone, pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide
DO NOT take on day of surgery
Tylenol
​Hormones (birth control pills, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
​Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Birth control pills and oral (pill) estrogen may have a slight risk of blood clots (DVT, pulmonary embolus) after lower limb surgery. 
  • Estrogen/Estrodiol patch and lotion is fine to take.
  • Oral and patch progesterone is fine to take.
  • Testosterone is okay to continue
​May take on day of surgery
​If you take oral birth control pills or oral estrogen please speak with your prescribing physician in advance of your surgery.