Day of Surgery

Before you leave home

• Remove all nail polish, jewelry, rings, makeup, piercings.
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
• Take heart and blood pressure medications with a sip of water.
• Do not take diabetes or insulin medication unless instructed to.
• Do not drink other liquids or surgery will be cancelled.
• Do not eat any solid foods or drink liquids besides water and Gatorade.
• Drink your 20oz Gatorade before you leave or on the way to the hospital.
  • If you are diabetic drink 20oz water instead.
• Remember to wash with the chlorhexidine soap (Hibiclens) the morning of surgery.

Surgery Center/Hospital arrival

• Arrive at the surgery center or hospital at least two hours before your procedure.
• Finish your Gatorade as you arrive.
• Check into the surgery center or hospital.

Surgery

• A nurse will identify you and get you an ID band.
• You will be checked in by a nurse and asked about your pain level.
• You will be given an IV and weighed by the nurse.
• You will be given several medications that will help keep you comfortable during surgery.
• You will meet the surgery team and your consent for surgery will be reviewed.
• Your surgical site will be marked.
• You will meet with the anesthesia team who will review your medical history and will discuss your anesthesia plan.
• If you are having a knee replacement surgery you will receive a local adductor canal block.
• It is recommended to have spinal anesthesia for total joint replacement as patients have less pain, quicker recovery, less blood loss, and better outcomes with spinal anesthesia.

Operating Room

• Once you are in the OR we will confirm your identity and the location of your surgery.
• You will be hooked up to monitors.
• Your anesthesiologist may perform your spinal block in the holding area or operating room.
• You will be given antibiotics through your IV.
• The surgical site will be prepped with antimicrobial wash and sterilized and drapes will be placed to prevent contamination to the surgical site.
• A final time out to confirm identity and surgical site will be performed before surgery begins.
• The surgical team will begin your operation.