Strong Heart and Vascular Center

• Exercises: Whether you are at home or in the hospital the night before surgery you should practice the coughing, deep breathing, and leg exercises you have learned.
  
  
• Skin Preparation: You will be expected to shower both the evening before and the morning of surgery. A special soap will be given to you. This soap is important because it will decrease the number of bacteria (germs) on your skin. YOU should NOT shave the areas of your skin that will have an incision. Primarily these areas can be your chest, groin, and legs. Self shaving results in micro cuts to the skin and can lead to infection. If you have facial hair (beard), it is highly recommended to clip the hair close to the face.
  
  All jewelry must be removed including wedding bands. This is due to the amount of swelling that is normal after cardiac surgery. Cutting the rings off may be necessary due to swelling if they are not removed.
  
  
• Visiting: If you are in the hospital the evening before surgery, your family may visit until 8:00 p.m. You will want your family to take all of your valuables and clothing home* at this time. If this is not possible you may have your valuables placed in the hospital safe and your clothes placed in the hospital clothes room.
  
  
• Nothing by Mouth: After midnight you will not be permitted to eat or drink anything. This helps assure an empty stomach for general anesthesia. You may be allowed to take some medications. Your doctor or nurse practitioner will tell you which medications you may take.
  
  
• Sleep: You should try to get a good night’s sleep so you will feel rested on the day of surgery. If you are staying in the hospital the night before surgery, sleeping medication will be available for you. Please let your nurse know if you would like sleeping medication. Disposable earplugs are also available upon request.

The Morning of Surgery

Most elective cardiac surgery patients are asked to come to the Strong Surgical Center the day of their scheduled surgery. The Strong Surgical staff will review your preoperative information. If any additional tests or lab tests are required they will be performed at this time. If your surgery is scheduled for the early morning, an anesthesiologist will also meet with you.

In preparing for your surgery, you should follow these steps before coming to the hospital:

1. Bathe/shower TWICE with the special soap.
2. Remove makeup and nail polish.
3. It is strongly recommended that beards be shaved or clipped close to the skin. YOU should NOT shave any other body area.
4. Remove all jewelry including wedding rings and store them in a safe place. If you have not given your valuables, such as your watch and wallet, to your family at this time, give them to the nurse.
5. Remove all prostheses such as contact lenses, wigs and dentures.
   

Pre-Surgery