Preparing for your surgery

Your surgery date with Dr. _________________ at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Surgical Out Patient Unit is on ___________________________

Preparing for Surgery Once the decision to have surgery is confirmed, your surgeon will determine if additional testing is needed prior to your surgery. If more testing is required, our practice will arrange to have it scheduled before surgery. If necessary, you will be given an appointment at King Edward Memorial Hospital with Preoperative Assessment for further medical evaluation. The main focus is to gather important medical information about your health before surgery to ensure you are in the best physical condition possible to undergo surgery. The risks and benefits of the various anesthetic options available to you will be discussed.

Please ensure we have an up to date list of all the medications you are taking.

Please inform us of any allergies you have.

Please inform the surgeon if you are taking any blood thinners as these will need to be stopped in advance before your surgery to prevent the risk of bleeding.

The date of your surgery will be arranged by our practice.

If you are having out patient surgery, arrange for a person responsible for your care and to drive you home after your surgery or accompany you on public transportation. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home after surgery.

Please prepare to have someone at home who can assist you after your surgery.

If you are working, the amount of time needed off work after surgery will be decided and discussed between you and your surgeon.

If a young child is having surgery, it is required that legal guardian stay in the hospital until the child is discharged.

The Day Before Surgery The day before your procedure please contact the surgical outpatient unit at 239-1663 between 11am-1pm to get your arrival time to go to the hospital for the procedure. They will provide instructions on what you need to do.

Do not eat, drink, or chew gum/mints/candy after midnight the day before your surgery. You will be given specific instructions by the surgical outpatient unit about when you can have your last drink of water. Failure to follow fasting instructions may lead to your surgery being cancelled for safety reasons.

Do not consume alcohol, use recreational drugs , or smoke cigarettes 24 hours prior to surgery.

If you develop a cold, persistent cough, sore throat, fever or any other illness within two days of surgery, your surgeon needs to be notified.

A rapid COVID-19 test will be done on the day of surgery during the check-in process. **please note that if you have tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the surgery, you must wait 7 weeks

from the positive test date for surgery if recovered and asymptomatic. If you were hospitalized for COVID-19 and symptomatic, you must wait 9 weeks. If you were in ICU, you must wait 12 weeks.

The Day of Surgery We encourage you to wear loose fitting clothing and comfortable shoes. If staying overnight at the hospital, you may want to bring toiletries/slippers/extra clothing.

Please do NOT wear makeup, perfume, nail polish, hair clips, or any jewellery when you arrive for your procedure.

Please plan to leave dentures, partial plates, contact lenses and eyeglasses with a family member or friend during your procedure.

Please inform a nurse if your teeth are capped or if you have any loose teeth.

Please do not bring any money, credit cards, jewellery or other valuables.

Please bring your inhaler(s) or other medications as specified during your pre admission testing.

Please bring your health insurance card Remove all piercings You may wear hearing aids on the day of surgery You will be instructed in advance as to which of your routine medications you should take on the day of your surgery. If you use a CPAP and are spending the night, please bring your device with you.

Enter through the main lobby in the Acute Care Wing. The receptionist can direct you to the elevator. Check in with the receptionist on the 2nd floor.

You will be escorted to the pre-op area where you will be assessed and prepared for your surgery.

After preparation you will wait in the sub-waiting room until your time for surgery.

An introduction to your team, including your anaesthetist and surgeon, will occur and you will be helped onto the operating table.

If waiting family need news or updates, please call 239-1755.

Following Your Surgery You will be taken to the Peri-anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) to recover from anaesthesia before being discharged or being transferred to the surgical ward.

If you are having an out patient procedure, you will then dress and be escorted to the discharge lounge, where you will receive a light snack and hot or cold beverage when you are able to tolerate food. Your discharge time will depend on the time, type and length of your surgery, and the time you need to recover.

When you are able to be discharged home, a staff member will call your transportation.

Bermuda Surgery Team Phone: 295-1383 Email: reception@surgery.bm