Preparing for Surgery 

DO

• Brush your teeth and/or use mouthwash without swallowing.
• Only take medications you were instructed to take, with a very small sip of water, in the morning prior to your surgery:
  • Take aspirin and your beta-blocker if you have been prescribed one, such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol, metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor), nadolol.
  • Do not take any diuretics, such as Lasix (Furosemide) and hydrochlorothiazide, or combination medicines like Quinapril-HCT.
  • Do not take any ACE-Inhibitors, lisinopril, captopril and enalapril, or combination medicines like Captopril-HCT.
  • If you take Coumadin or Plavix, you should have received instructions about when, if necessary, to stop these medications. If you didn't, please call us.
• If you are diabetic:
  • Do not take any oral agents (pills for diabetes) on the day of surgery.
  • If you take Metformin, stop two days prior to surgery.
  • If you take NPH insulin, take 1/2 of your normal dose the morning of surgery.
  • If you take Lantus/Glargine insulin, take your normal dose up until the time of surgery.
  • If you use an insulin pump, do not change the basal rate.
• Leave your personal belongings, including jewelry and valuables at home.
  • Your family may bring you a small suitcase the day after surgery, which should only include toiletries, your slippers and robe.
  • You may wear glasses, contact lenses, or dentures to the hospital, but please send them home with your family before you go to the preoperative area.
• If you feel sick or have a fever within 48 hours of surgery, please notify us immediately.
• Call your surgeon if any of your symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath) get worse in the days and weeks before your surgery.

DON'T

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on evening before your surgery. This includes mints and gum, and is for your safety.
• Do not wear any make-up, nail polish or toenail polish.
• Do not wear any powders, deodorants or lotions.
• Do not wear any jewelry, including wedding rings. Your hands and fingers will become swollen during and after surgery: if rings are left on, they can interfere with circulation and may have to be cut off.

Because skin is not sterile, we need to be sure that your skin is as free of germs as possible before surgery. You will need to shower with special antiseptic soap, called chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), which will be given to you in pre-admission testing or by the nurse in the hospital.

You will need to shower both the night before your surgery and the morning of your surgery, using the CHG soap and following these instructions:

1. Wash and rinse your hair first using your normal shampoo.
2. Make sure you completely rinse the shampoo from your hair and body.
3. Wet your entire body.
4. Turn the water off in the shower or move away from the water spray to avoid rinsing the antiseptic soap solution off.
5. Apply the antiseptic CHG soap solution to your body starting at the neck and lather your entire body from the neck down.
6. Never use the antiseptic solution near your eyes, ears or mouth.
7. Gently wash your body.
8. Scrub the areas where the incision(s) will be located for about 3 minutes.
9. Avoid scrubbing you skin too hard.
10. Once you have completed the scrub, rinse the CHG soap off your body completely using shower water.
11. Do not wash with regular soap after you have used the antiseptic CHG soap solution.
12. Do not shave any areas where surgery will be performed (chest, legs).
13. Pat yourself dry with a clean freshly washed towel.
14. DO NOT apply any powders, deodorants or lotions.
15. Dress in clean, freshly washed clothes.

Parking

The most convenient option for parking is the Pilgrim Road Garage on BIDMC's West Campus.

• The garage is open 24 hours a day.
• The entrance is located on Crossover Street and can be accessed from Pilgrim Road or Autumn Street.
• BIDMC campus maps

Please report to the reception desk in the Rosenberg Building lobby (1 Deaconess Rd) on BIDMC's West Campus for surgery check-in.

Pre-Operative

Once you are brought to the preoperative area, the nurse can show your family where to wait during your surgery. Family may also wait at home if they prefer. Either way, the surgeon will call or speak with them when your surgery is over.

While you are in surgery, your family can receive general information from the Surgical Liaison Service (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.): Call 617-632-8593 and ask for beeper #92470.

A nurse from the surgical team will also provide periodic updates to your family spokesperson.

• For any questions or concerns prior to your surgery, please call Cardiac Surgery at 617-632-8383.