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Operating Room: Pre-Operative If you should require surgery, your procedure will be scheduled by our surgical coordinator at one of the following hospitals:
Prior to any surgical procedure, it is important to refrain from eating or drinking anything after midnight on the night prior to the procedure. Pre-Operative Testing: Prior to your surgery, you will need to have some pre-operative testing. These tests are for your safety and are performed for anyone who is going to be given any type of anesthesia. At a minimum, some basic blood tests will be necessary. Many patients will also be required to have a recent EKG and chest X-ray. Your doctor will also review your medical history with you and decide if any additional tests or exams are needed. Pre-operative testing can be performed in several different ways. Depending on your preference as well as your insurance plan, you can either have your tests performed at your primary care physician’s office, at an outside laboratory approved by your insurance, or at one of the testing centers provided by the hospitals listed above. Many insurance plans do not allow you to have the tests performed on the morning of your surgery, so we recommend that you be tested ahead of time. At the time that your surgery is scheduled, our office staff will also arrange for the appropriate pre-operative testing. If you have had recent blood work, EKG, or chest X-ray performed, you should let our office know, since these may not need to be repeated. Medications to avoid prior to surgery: Prior to having surgery, it is important to review your current medications with your surgeon and primary care physician to determine if any changes need to be made to your medication schedule. Some medications, such as ant-inflammatory drugs, many pain relievers, and some herbal supplements will alter the body’s ability to clot. In particular, medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided in the weeks prior to your surgery. In general, if you are taking a prescription medication that is known to contain aspirin or ibuprofen, or has known blood-thinning properties (such as Coumadin or Persantine), you should not stop taking it until you have consulted the physician who has prescribed the medication. Usually, a schedule will be worked out by your physician to temporarily stop taking these medications at a time that is most appropriate and safest for you. Other prescribed medications, including antibiotics, are OK to continue taking until the morning of your surgery, unless otherwise instructed. Prior to taking any over-the-counter medications, please check the active ingredients for aspirin or ibuprofen. Refrain from taking medications with these ingredients or any anti-inflammatory substances for 3 weeks prior to surgery. Acetominophen (Tylenol), is NOT such a medication and may be taken for pain relief or fever during this time, at the appropriate dose. Because it is unclear at this time which herbal remedies have blood-thinning properties, we also recommend refraining from taking herbal supplements prior to your surgery. Below is a list of common over-the-counter medications that should be avoided:
If you are scheduled for surgery and have been taking a medication containing aspirin or ibuprophen, or have questions regarding your medications, please contact our office at (202) 785-5000. Referrals: If your insurance requires one, our office will request a referral for surgery from your primary care provider once your surgery has been scheduled. Our office will certainly try to facilitate this in any manner possible, although it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to make sure that the referral has been taken care of prior to the date of the surgery. Preauthorization: Our office will take care of obtaining preauthorization for your surgery from your insurance company. This process, however, often requires a copy of the referral form from your primary care provider. It is therefore very important that we receive the referral well in advance of your surgery to reduce the chances that your insurance company denies authorization. There are many other reasons why your insurance company may deny preauthorization. We therefore ask that every patient contact his/her insurance company to verify coverage and to determine if there are any documents or payments that they may need from you to authorize your surgery. If, for any reason, we do not receive preauthorization from your insurance company, it may be necessary to delay or postpone your procedure. We will make every effort to assure that this does not happen, but should this type of problem arise, you will be notified by our office. Informed Consent: Prior to your surgery, you will be asked to sign a consent form. It is important that you read the entire form and understand the reason the procedure is being performed, what is going to be done, and what the alternatives are for your condition. During your office visits with your doctor, the procedure will be explained to you in detail and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. If any other questions arise prior to your surgery, please contact our office at (202) 785-5000. It is very important to us that you are comfortable with the choices you are making and with the procedure that is being offered to you. Illness: We want your surgery to be as safe as possible for you. Therefore, if you should unexpectedly become ill prior to your surgery, it is very important to contact our office to determine if your surgery needs to be rescheduled.
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