Before Cardiac Surgery

Do:

• Brush your teeth and/or use mouthwash without swallowing.
• Only take medications that your doctor instructed you to take (with a very small sip of water) in the morning of your surgery:
  • Take aspirin and your beta-blocker if your doctor has prescribed one, such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol, metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor) or 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 diabetes pills on the day of surgery.
  • If you take Metformin, stop two days before surgery.
  • If you take NPH insulin, take half 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 bag or 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 right away.
• Call your surgeon if any of your symptoms (such as chest pain or shortness of breath) get worse in the days and weeks before your surgery.

Don't:

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the evening before your surgery. This includes mints and gum, and is for your safety.
• Do not wear any make-up or any polish on your fingernails or toenails.
• 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 you leave rings on, they can interfere with circulation and our care team may have to cut them 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 (chlorhexidine gluconate, or CHG). Our team will give you CHG during pre-admission testing or while you're at the hospital.

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

• Wash and rinse your hair first using your normal shampoo.
• Make sure you completely rinse the shampoo from your hair and body.
• Wet your entire body.
• Turn the water off in the shower or move away from the water spray to avoid rinsing off the antiseptic soap solution.
• Apply the antiseptic CHG soap solution to your body starting at the neck, and lather your entire body from the neck down.
• Never use the antiseptic solution near your eyes, ears or mouth.
• Gently wash your body.
• Scrub the areas for about three minutes where the incisions (cuts) will be made.
• Avoid scrubbing your skin too hard.
• Once you have completed the scrub, rinse the CHG soap off your body completely using shower water.
• Do not wash with regular soap after you have used the antiseptic CHG soap solution.
• Do not shave any areas where surgery will be performed (such as chest or legs).
• Pat yourself dry with a clean, freshly washed towel.
• Do not apply any powders, deodorants or lotions.
• Dress in clean, freshly washed clothes.