Useful Tips for Surgery Preparation and Faster Recovery

Healthful Vitality | 08/03/2021 | By Ancy Jacob, RN, BSN. | Useful Tips for Surgery Preparation and Faster Recovery

Know Your Surgery: Importance of your Surgical Preparation

If you’re planning or thinking to undergo surgery, you should spend some time effectively preparing for your surgery. That means keeping an eye on your current health status, taking care as much as you can of your health, learning about the procedure, and getting to know the staff that will be going to take care of you. Planning ahead may also help to make sure that you have a successful surgery and heal quicker with a much more smooth recovery. Proper pre-surgical care, helping you to feel better and making sure your all requirements are fulfilled, means you have a good experience and a speedy recovery.

It is a fact that anyone is surprised when the doctor informs them for the first time that they have to undergo surgery, regardless of whether it is major or minor surgery. But your doctor will always explain the risks, benefits, procedures, and results of your surgery. However, before consenting to the procedure, clarify all your doubts by asking your doctor and referring to credible online sources. But don’t worry about the myths and traditional beliefs that your family, friends, or neighbors tell you. Be clear about the date of your surgery so that you can be well prepared. We demonstrate below the tips for surgery preparation and faster recovery.

Prepare for Surgery and Anesthesia: Make Sure Your Doctor Knows You

Medical history:

The diagnosed medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney or liver diseases, thyroid problem, and any other chronic illnesses. Show the previous reports of your medical illnesses such as echocardiograms, ECG, X-rays, dialysis reports, and any other laboratory reports.

Drug history:

The drugs you already using such as medications for chronic illnesses. It is very important to highlight if you are using any blood thinners (Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet drugs) as they need to be withheld several days before the surgery to prevent bleeding risk at your surgery.

Transfusion history:

If you have any blood transfusion history and post-transfusion reactions, never forget to tell them to your doctor as you will not be conscious when they decide to give you a blood pack.

Surgical history:

Whether you have undergone any surgeries before and any associated complications. It is important to decide the best type of anesthesia and to be cautious while doing the surgery. As an example, a person who has undergone abdominal surgery may have adhesion where the surgeon has to carefully go through.

Deformities:

Tell your doctor if you have any kind of deformity, maybe spinal, orthopedic, dental, or whatever deviated from the normal body structure. Spinal anesthesia will not be the best choice if you have any spinal problems. It will be problematic if they detect any dental problem or loos teeth while intubation.

Allergy history:

If you have encountered any allergies to drugs, foods (e.g., avocados, shellfish, and banana), tapes, highlight them with the severity in the discussions with your surgeon. So, they can avoid those drugs such as pain killers and antibiotics and use non-allergy tapes for surgical site dressings.

Acute problems:

Whether you are currently suffering from any pain or infection like urinary, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or skin. It is very important these days to educate your doctor if you have any fever or respiratory symptoms like cough and sneezing. Early screening for COVID 19 is essential to prevent collapse in the health care system.

Family history:

The history of the diseases and health conditions (e.g., heart attack, stroke, diabetics, cancer, etc.) in your family.

Preparation for Anesthesia

Surgical procedures are usually performed to correct your problem or improve your quality of life. Your surgical procedure might be done in the hospital, at an outpatient surgical setting, or even your doctor’s office as in the case of any minor procedures. Whatever kind of surgical procedure you’re having, you will be most likely undergone some form of anesthesia to keep you sedative, relaxed, and comfortable. Planning ahead for anesthesia may help ensure your better experience throughout the procedure.

However, in the case of general anesthesia, you may be advised to do the following:

• Stop eating and drinking for a recommended period of time before the time of the procedure.
• Undergo several blood tests, electrocardiograms, X-rays, or other tests necessary for your anesthesia fitness.
• Undergo an enema the evening before administering anesthesia, to empty your bowels.
• Remove your makeup.
• Remove your nail polish.
• Do not use contact lenses.
• Leave your ornaments and other valuables at your home.
• Follow the instructions about dentures or other prosthetic devices you may be wearing according to the facility policies.

How to Prepare Your Body for Surgery? Be Optimized for Your Surgery

The results of any surgical procedure depend on both the surgeon and the patient’s factors. You may have already chosen the best surgeon for your surgery. Therefore, you must be as well prepared as possible. Optimize your medical conditions like blood sugar, blood pressure, hemoglobin level by adhering to the prescribed drugs, vitamins, and supplements. Eat healthy and nutritious foods to enhance your immunity and healing process. Engage in appropriate exercises to increase your cardiorespiratory fitness. Stop smoking and avoid illegal drugs. Stop taking blood thinners on time as recommended by your doctor. Admit to the healthcare facility exactly on the date given with the requested reports.

Useful Tips

• If you know early that your surgery is scheduled, you should try to improve your health as you have time for it.
• Eat healthy food.
• Perform possible and tolerable exercises.
• Avoid smoking and perform some deep breathing exercises.
• Avoid illegal drugs and blood thinners stopped according to your doctor’s advice.

The Day before Surgery: What You May Expect on the Day Before Surgery?

The day before surgery, stop solid and liquid meals on time as advised by the surgical team. Take premedication given by the nurse. They will reduce your gastric acidity and stop being anxious and raising your blood sugar levels and blood pressure, which will be a reason to postpone the surgery. Be clean as much as possible. Cleanse your entire body with antimicrobial soap and water, including your hair. Brush your teeth; use an antibacterial rinse (mouthwash) for proper oral hygiene. Remove your hair around the surgical area, if you can. But don’t force yourself to break the skin. It is very important to adhere to the instructions given by the health team.

Day of Surgery: What to Do on the Day of Surgery?

If you were not admitted several days early to the surgical date and advised to admit on the same day of surgery, come to the facility at least two hours early to the surgery time.

You should follow the below tips on the day of your surgery:

• Bring all diagnostic documents such as echocardiograms, ECG, X-rays, dialysis reports, and any other laboratory reports with you.
• Repeat a good body shower with anti-bacterial soap.
• Rinse and gargle your mouth after brushing.
• Do not put on makeup, nail polish. Wear clean clothes.
• Do not wear ornaments, as electricity will be used for the procedures in the surgery.
• There should be no ring as it could become a tourniquet even for a small swelling.
• Be in the hospital on time.

Post-Surgery: Post-Surgical Care at Hospital and at Home

Post-Surgical Care at Hospital

You will become conscious of the effect of anesthesia will decrease depending on the type and duration of anesthesia used. Start with clear liquids like water when only advised by the surgical team. When they make sure you are tolerating the orals, you will be advised to eat semisolids and then solids. Early mobilization is a known factor for rapid recovery. So, sit up and walk around your bed when advised since mobilization improves blood circulation, fluid drainage from tissues, and normalization of the body. Stay clean as much as possible and avoid many visitors to prevent surgical site infections. If you see any discharge or bleeding from the surgery site, inform the staff immediately.

Post-Surgical Care at Home

Once the healthcare staff is satisfied with your recovery, they will send you home. But you must continue with the administered medication and eating nutritious food. Rest is necessary for recovery, but don’t stay bedridden all day. Do tolerable exercises according to your doctor’s instructions. Avoid activities that are recommended to avoid, perhaps for a certain period of time. If you have any discharge or extraordinary pain at the surgery site, seek medical advice immediately. Visit the doctor if they have requested to present for a review visit.

Useful Tips

• Follow the instructions from your doctor.
• Keep yourself clean and safe. Avoid lots of visitors.
• If you have any signs of infection, contact your doctor immediately.
• Eat healthy for your smooth recovery.
• Do tolerable exercises according to your doctor’s instructions.

Final Thoughts

Indeed, do not possess any false beliefs that will only hurt you; ask your doctor your questions. When you are sufficiently prepared physically, psychologically, and emotionally, and follow the guidelines and policies, your risk for postoperative complications becomes too low, leading to a speedy and smooth recovery.

Get the best result from the surgery and have a fast and safe recovery.