If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, nervous disorders, blood thinners, or aspirin, ask your doctor about these medications and how they relate to your procedure.

For women, if you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, please notify your surgeon immediately. If you develop a cold, fever, respiratory infection or other illness prior to surgery, please call your doctor or the Surgery Center of Reno.

ARRANGE FOR A RIDE AHEAD OF TIME
You will not be allowed to drive yourself home following surgery. Arrange for a responsible friend or family member to drive you home.

The Night Before Your Surgery
Eating, Drinking and Medications
For reasons of safety it is important to limit the intake of food and fluids before anesthesia and surgery.

Infants and Children may have formula or food until midnight. They may also have formula until 6 hours before the time of surgery. Infants who are breast fed may continue to do so until 4 hours before the time of surgery. All infants and children less than 18 months of age may have clear fluids (water, pedialyte, clear fruit juices and sodas only) until 4 hours before the scheduled time of arrival. Children over 18 months of age may eat until midnight of the night before surgery.

Adults may eat their regular diet until midnight. After midnight you must not eat or drink anything.

Patients having a history of heartburn, esophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, gastroparesis or similar conditions which impair gastric emptying should have no solid food after midnight.

Patients, parents and families should be very careful to read, understand and follow these guidelines. Doing so helps to ensure the comfort and safety of all patients.

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in cancellation of the planned surgery for safety reasons. During anesthesia, the presence of food or liquid in the stomach may lead to potentially life threatening pneumonia should the contents enter into your lungs.

Why do we ask you to come in prior to your surgery time?
We ask that you come in early before surgery to ensure enough time to complete the admission process, admit you to our preoperative area, institute monitoring and intravenous preparation, antibiotic administration (if applicable), and interview by your anesthesiologist and surgeon. We will minimize your waiting time and strive to maintain an efficient surgical schedule. If you do encounter a delay, please let us know what we can do to make your wait more comfortable.

Preoperative health questionnaire
Your treating physician's staff may provide you with a patient health questionnaire. Alternatively, you may download and print the appropriate health questionnaire from our web site. Please fill out and either mail or fax (number is on the form) the health questionnaire to our center as soon as possible. The forms are very important as they help us to plan your care and save you time during your preoperative phone call and on the day of your admission to the center.

Preoperative phone call
One of our nurses will call you prior to your visit, usually one to seven days prior to your surgery. We will confirm your arrival time, provide directions to the Surgery Center of Reno and answer your questions. We will also discuss any health issues indicated on your patient health questionnaire or obtain a health history if you have not already returned your health questionnaire. The preoperative call nurse will also emphasize the importance of adhering to our No Eating and Drinking requirements.

Changes in your health
If you notice a change in your health (i.e., cough, cold, fever, etc.) it is IMPORTANT to notify your physician and the SUMMIT Surgery Center before your scheduled surgery date. 775.674.5220

Diabetic patients need to pay particular attention to their diet and medication on the day of surgery. Individual management of each diabetic patient is necessary to provide a safe surgical experience. Prior to the day of surgery, patients should contact the physician who manages their diabetes. This will allow a specific plan for their diabetic management on the evening before the day of surgery and the day of surgery. It is always best if this is coordinated with your surgeon and diabetic management physician.

All diabetic patients should continue to monitor their blood sugars before and after their surgery. Blood sugars will be monitored during your stay by the SUMMIT Surgery Center staff. Because anesthesia and surgery is a stressful time, blood sugars may fluctuate and require more frequent monitoring during the first few hours after surgery.

We recommend most adult patients with diabetes not eat anything after midnight before surgery.

The parents of children with diabetes should contact their physician for individual instructions.

GENERAL GUIDELINE SUGGESTED FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS:

Type 1, juvenile or insulin dependent diabetics
• Patients on insulin pumps should continue using their pumps up to, during and after surgery using a basal rate only. Their routine use may be resumed after they commence their usual diet.
• Patients on long acting insulin such as NPH, Lente or Ultralente should take their evening dose as usual but reduce any morning doses by 1/3 if the surgery is in the morning, or by 1/2 ; if surgery is in the afternoon. Regular insulin should be held until a regular diet is resumed.
• Patients on long acting insulin such as Lantus should reduce their evening dose prior to surgery by 20%. Regular short acting insulin should be withheld until diet is resumed after their surgery.

Type 2, adult onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetics
• Patients should avoid taking their oral diabetic medication the night before surgery. This medication may be resumed the night after their surgery once they have resumed their diet.
• Patients with type 2 diabetes who take insulin should follow the guidelines for type 1 diabetes.
• Fasting guidelines are the same for diabetic or non-diabetic patients.

When surgery is completed, you will be taken to the recovery room. The length of time you will need to rest before leaving will depend on the nature of your surgery and your recovery from anesthesia.

We permit a family member or friend to join you in our recovery room when possible. In order to prevent overcrowding we must limit visitors to one person at peak times. Therefore we ask that you not bring children or others who cannot remain unattended in the waiting room.

We want to be particularly responsive to the needs of children and want you to understand that they will be cared for by our recovery room nurses until they have awakened. At that time, parents will be encouraged to come into the recovery room to be with the child.

Before You Leave
Please be certain you understand your physician's instructions. You will receive instruction from our nurses regarding medication, diet, and rest requirements. The day of surgery and perhaps at the time of discharge, you may feel sleepy, tired and dizzy. Our advice is to go home and rest for the remainder of the day. For your own safety, it is important that you do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours after leaving the SUMMIT Surgery Center

At Home
You should plan to have a responsible adult stay with you the night after surgery. If you experience difficulties or complications once you return home, please contact your surgeon immediately. If you cannot reach your surgeon and your condition requires immediate attention, you must call 911 or be driven to the nearest emergency department. You may also call the staff at the SUMMIT Surgery Center any time between 7.00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at 775.674.5200.

We will contact you the next business day after your procedure to check on your status.

Patient Satisfaction
A Surgery Center of Reno staff member will attempt to contact you after surgery to check on your progress. You will also receive a patient satisfaction survey form that will help us to continuously improve our care in response to your suggestions. If you have provided us with your email address, you may be contacted by email regarding completion of this form on-line. We appreciate your input!