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Before Surgery

Whether your surgery or procedure requires you to stay overnight or not, there are some important things you need to do and remember the day before your visit.

What can I eat and drink before surgery?

  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery including mints or candy, except clear liquids, which are permitted up until 2 hours prior to the scheduled arrival time, unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
  • No liquids should be consumed after midnight if there is a history or symptoms of gastric reflux (GERD), nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, or cancer of the stomach or esophagus.
  • Liquids to avoid include: milk, cream, high caffeine beverages and energy drinks, orange or pineapple juice, smoothies and milk shakes, and alcoholic drinks.
  • Allowable clear liquids include the following: water, sports drinks (i.e. Gatorade, Powerade), apple or cranberry juice, black coffee or tea without cream/milk, carbonated beverages and sodas. Note: Limit caffeinated beverages to less than 16 ounces.
  • If you have been instructed to take medications, take with a sip of water.

What should I bring with me on the day of surgery?

  • Prior to surgery, the following items will need to be removed. Contacts, body/facial piercings, jewelry including earrings, hearing aids and dentures.
  • Please create a plan for safekeeping. Storage cases will be provided if needed and kept with your clothing bad in a secured location until you arrive to your surgical floor.
  • It is recommended that a responsible adult assist you after your surgery.
  • Encourage patients to arrange for a responsible person to remain with them at home and reinforce to the patient, not to drive through the evening and night following their procedure.
  • Please remove and leave contact lenses at home if possible. If this is not an option, please bring solution and a storage case.
  • You may NOT drive yourself home after anesthesia. A responsible adult must accompany you in taking a car, cab, bus, train or van.
  • If you use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, please bring it with you on the day of your procedure.
  • Bring your insurance card and ID with you to the hospital.
  • Follow any special diet instructions given by your surgeon.

What can I do to get myself ready for surgery?

  • You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow.
  • Remove nail polish and/or artificial nails on the operative side if having surgery on your hands, feet or legs.
  • Bring a case for eyeglasses.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes. If you are having surgery above the waist, a button-down shirt will be easier to put on after surgery.
  • Take a shower with soap and water and pay attention to cleaning the surgical area. Do not shave the surgical area with a razor. Dry yourself with a clean towel and put on clean clothes.
  • Call your surgeon before surgery if you do not feel well or develop any signs of illness, cold, fever, sore throat, chest pain or difficulty breathing.

Medication Instructions

  • Please bring a list of all of your medications with doses and time of day taken (this list includes over the counter medications, herbal supplements, aspirin, inhalers, creams, patches, etc).
  • Do not take any herbal medications or vitamins for 7 days before your procedure.
  • Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for 7 days before surgery. These include but are not limited to: Ibuprofen/Motrin, Advil, Daypro,Naprosyn or Feldene.
  • If you are having pain or discomfort it is okay to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you have been instructed otherwise.
  • If you are taking blood thinners/anticoagulants (including aspirin), it is extremely important that you talk to your surgeon to see if you should continue these medications or not before surgery

 

Finding Out Your Arrival Time

Your surgeon’s office may have provided you with an approximate time of surgery. However, please know that we will send you your official arrival time for surgery via text and/or voice call.

You will receive a call and/or a text after 3 pm the day before surgery, telling you what time you should arrive. If your surgery is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your call or message the Friday before.

 

Locations

McGivney Exterior

McGivney Advanced Surgery Center - New Haven

The McGivney Advanced Surgery Center specializes in outpatient, same-day surgical treatment for bone, joint and spine conditions.

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Shoreline Exterior

Shoreline Outpatient Surgery Center

Located in the Yale New Haven Shoreline Medical Center, the Surgery Center features six state-of-the-art operating rooms for specialized same-day procedures performed by skilled surgeons and Yale New Haven Hospital surgery teams.

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YNHH Exterior

Yale New Haven Hospital

Relying on the skill and expertise of more than 4,500 university and community physicians and advanced practitioners, including more than 600 resident physicians, Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary, family-focused care in more than 100 medical specialty areas.

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YNHCH exterior

Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital

Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital offers pre-surgical preparation classes with our child life specialists that include a tour of our surgery center, and a pre-anesthesia consultation to those who need one.

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SRC Exterior

Yale New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael Campus

Relying on the skill and expertise of more than 4,500 university and community physicians and advanced practitioners, including more than 600 resident physicians, Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary, family-focused care in more than 100 medical specialty areas.

Learn More

Contact Us

McGivney Surgery Center
203-680-7542
 
Saint Raphael Campus
203-200-2775
 
Shoreline Surgery Center
203-204-0400
 
York Street Campus
203-200-2775
 
York Street Campus (Pediatrics)
203-688-5576