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Presurgical Information |
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We will do our best to make your surgical experience as pleasant and safe as possible. To provide you with the safest possible care, a physician anesthesiologist will be with you at all times while you are in surgery. The following information will help you prepare for your operation. Please follow all instructions that you receive during your preoperative visit. Please note: All postoperative patients receiving anesthesia may not drive themselves home after recovering from surgery and therefore need to make arrangements in advance for transportation home. If you are scheduled for surgery at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, your surgeon will inform you of the need to visit Presurgical Testing (PST) located at 8820 Dempster Street, across from the hospital. PST hours are 6:30AM-3:45PM Monday-Friday and phone is 847-723-7372. At PST, you will complete an automated questionnaire that details your health history. Based on your health history and type of surgery, you will also receive several preoperative instructions including any testing requirements, plan for any oral medications, and when to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery. During your visit to the PST, you will also receive instructions concerning your personal belongings, including glasses, contact lens, hearing aids, and other items. The day before your surgery you will receive a preoperative phone call. The person calling will repeat the most important information that you received during your PST visit. If you are not available but have an answering machine, the person calling will record this information on your machine. If you have any questions about the presurgical information you are reading here or that you receive in your preoperative call: 847-723-7400 to speak directly with the preoperative staff at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. On the day of surgery you should not eat or drink anything unless otherwise instructed. Diabetics: do not take oral diabetes medications on the day of surgery. For Insulin Dependent Diabetics will receive specific instruction regarding insulin management from your primary care or on the call the evening before surgery. If you have any questions about the medications you must take or not take, or when you must take them, please call 847-723-7400. You may brush your teeth, but you may not drink any water. It is dangerous to receive anesthesia when you have food or liquid in your stomach! If you use inhalers, please bring them on the morning of surgery. Also if you have Sleep Apnea, please bring your CPAP/BIPAP mask with you. After your operation , you will be given a set of written instructions concerning the level of activity you may engage in and your need for medical follow-up. All outpatients receiving anesthesia may not drive themselves home and need to have planned in advance for another means of transportation. If we can be of assistance in answering questions before the day of surgery, please reach us via the presurgical staff at 847-723-7400. The hours for this division are as follows: |