Pre-Admission Instructions Pre-operative testing is necessary because it lets us know that you are physically capable of having surgery. It also reduces the chance of any complications and allows us to stop potential problems before they happen. It’s our responsibility to guide you through surgery as safely as possible and we take this responsibility very seriously. Please feel free to call our office any time with concerns and questions about your pre-admission testing.
Working with Dr. Sweeney to help you are Jeane, RN and Ray Hines, PA-C, you may call either at any time for assistance at 708-283-2225.
GETTING READY: “The weeks prior to surgery.”
Medications: The following are Minimally Invasive Spines recommendations for taking medications before and after surgery. Please let your primary care doctor know what you are doing and if he disagrees with any of the following orders, please call us immediately to discuss the matter.
- Stop all Anti-inflammatory medication 2 weeks before surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Naprosyn, Relafen, Aleve and prescription anti-inflammatories. These medications increase the risk of an intra-operative and post-operative bleed. THESE MEDICATIONS MUST BE STOPPED 2 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY AND UP TO 1 WEEK AFTER SURGERY. If you suffer from arthritis you can continue to take Tylenol or Celebrex. Anti-inflammatories affect bone healing and may lower fusion success if used for several months after surgery.
- If you take Plavix you need to stop 2 weeks before surgery as well. However, you must consult with your primary care physician or your cardiologist prior to stopping Plavix. It is important to consult with your doctor as soon as possible about this issue.
- Coumadin (Warfarin) must be stopped at least 5 days before surgery. Your primary care physician or cardiologist must be involved in this decision as well. Be sure to consult with that doctor in plenty of time before your surgery.
- Stop Smoking. Stopping smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your chances of a successful surgery.
- A member of our support team will set up an appointment for a pre-surgical history and physical with Ray Hines, PA-C. Ray will be able to answer any questions you have about the surgery. Bring any films that you have with you to this appointment. (MRI, CT, Myelogram, X-Rays) You will be given a date for your post-op visit at this time also.
- Stop all Herbal medicine at least 1 week before surgery.
Pre-Admission Testing: Pre-Admission testing can be done at several locations. It can be done at the hospital you have chosen for your surgery, some doctors offices are equipped to do all the testing or we can arrange to have it done at a local hospital or facility close to your home if we can readily obtain the results. The tests you may be taking are chest x-ray, EKG (electrocardiogram) and some lab work (blood work). If any of these tests results should be abnormal you will be contacted with instructions on what to do next. |
