PRE-OPERATIVE CHECKLIST

• Attend all recommended/required medical appointments, including any pre-operative testing, if necessary
• Fill prescriptions from your surgeon
• Confirm your ride home from the surgery center. You must have a responsible adult to take you home and care for you 24 hours after your surgery. We do not permit patients to go home via public transportation (bus, Uber, Lyft, etc). If you do not have a ride and caretaker, your surgery will be canceled.

DAY BEFORE SURGERY

Food and Drink Instructions

• No solid food, milk products, or alcohol after midnight
• No gum or hard candy

Tobacco and Marijuana Products

• No tobacco products – cigarettes, dip, chew, vaping, marijuana, e-cigs day of surgery
• No marijuana products for 24 hours before or after surgery

Responsible Adult

You must have someone here with you on the day of surgery. The person taking you home must meet the following requirements:

• At least 18 years old
• This person must be available by phone while you have your surgery
• Your responsible adult will be required to sign your discharge instructions, they will be in writing for you as well
• They must drive you home

If You Are Diabetic

Check your blood sugar at home before coming in for surgery. If your blood sugar is less than 80 or more than 250, please call us at 847-450-0881

Other Instructions

• Please notify your surgeon if you develop a fever or respiratory infection prior to your surgery
• Please be careful to keep your surgery site free of blisters, bites, cuts, etc.
• Please do not bring children to the surgery center as they will not be admitted to any clinical area, and children are not allowed to be unattended in the waiting area
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• For shoulders or hand surgery, wear a button-up shirt
• Instructions personalized for you will be provided at the time of discharge

DAY OF SURGERY

• Report to the surgery center approximately 1½ hours prior to your scheduled surgery time (our pre-operative nurse will confirm the time the day before surgery)
• Arrive promptly at the time instructed during your pre-op phone call as this will allow adequate time for all necessary admission procedures
• Please bring your insurance ID cards and photo ID. If special financial arrangements are necessary, please call North Suburban Pain and Spine Surgery Center prior to admission
• Leave jewelry and all valuables at home
• Remove body piercing jewelry and no false eyelashes
• Upon arrival, you will change into a hospital gown and slippers, which we provide. You will be asked to remove contact lenses, dentures, and any prosthesis. No cell phones are permitted in the patient care areas
• Be sure to bring any paperwork your doctor gave you such as test results or your medical history and a list of medications

DAY AFTER SURGERY

• It is perfectly normal to feel discomfort in the area of the surgery. You may also experience some drowsiness or dizziness depending on the kind of anesthesia you received
• Your surgeon will provide specific instructions for care while recovering at home. In the event of difficulty, please call your surgeon
• For the first 24 hours following surgery, do not engage in strenuous activities, do not drink alcoholic beverages, drive or make any important decisions
• You will be asked to complete a questionnaire about the care you received. Your comments will enable us to continue to improve our services

Pain

You will probably have some pain after your surgery. We will help manage this by using a combination of ice, nerve blocks, anti-inflammatories, and pain medication. It’s important that you take your medications exactly as you are instructed. If your pain is not controlled, please notify your surgeon.

Post-Op Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)

Depending on your risk factors and type of surgery, we will be using medications and a variety of anesthesia techniques to minimize PONV. If you have a history of PONV in the past, we may prescribe medication to be taken prior to arriving at the surgery center.

Bleeding

There should not be excessive bleeding after your surgery. A small amount of blood on your dressing is normal. If you have excessive bleeding after your surgery, call your surgeon immediately, or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Infection

Infection is a possible but unexpected complication after surgery. Signs of possible infection include:

• Temperature greater than 101
• Swelling, warmth, or redness at the surgical site
• Drainage at the surgical site