Pre-Operative Instructions

To prepare for your surgery at Adventist Health Sonora, we encourage you to read and follow the directions below:

• The night before your surgery, unless otherwise instructed, do not eat any food, drink any liquids, chew gum or consume mints after midnight. Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to admission.
• You will be contacted the working day prior to your procedure to confirm your arrival time.
• Patients under 18 years of age must have a parent or legal guardian present to sign their consent and discharge paperwork.
• On the day of surgery, if you require anesthesia you will be seen pre-operatively by an anesthesiologist.
• If you are having hand surgery, you need to ask your surgeon if removal of nail polish and acrylic nails prior to surgery is necessary.
• Please bring cases for glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or dentures. They may be removed prior to surgery.
• Shower or bathe the night before and the morning of surgery. You may be given a special soap to use.
• Wear casual, loose-fitting and comfortable clothing. Consider that you may have a large dressing to fit under your clothing after surgery.
• Bring only those personal items that you will need during your hospital stay. Please do not bring valuables such as jewelry or large sums of cash to the hospital. Remove all body piercings before coming to the hospital. You may wear your wedding ring if you are not having surgery on that hand, arm or shoulder. A family member or designated person will be responsible for your personal belongings until you return to the outpatient surgery area or your assigned room.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco before your surgery. Adventist Health Sonora and Sonora Regional Surgery Center are smoke-free environments. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on campus.
• Please designate a friend or family member to be a contact person for your surgeon and also answer questions from other friends and family members.
• Friends and family may wait in the surgery waiting area. Two visitors at a time are allowed at the patient bedside in outpatient surgery. Family members are not allowed in the post-anesthesia care unit (recovery room).
• You may be instructed to take certain medications prior to surgery. If you are, take these with only a small sip of water.
• Be sure to follow any additional instructions from your physician.

If the above conditions are not met, your surgery may be canceled and rescheduled for another day.

Should you develop any change in your health such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold, flu or infection, or if you have any questions regarding your admission or surgery, please contact your surgeon.

If you have any questions please call the preadmissions nurse at (209) 536-3421, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.