Pre-Operative Patient Checklist
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"Everything a patient must do before undergoing surgery"
People just don’t go to the hospital and undergo a major surgical operation right then and there. A long preparation time is necessary so as to ensure that the results will be as favorable as can be. Orthopedic treatments are no exception, and people who are to undergo any surgical orthopedic treatment are advised to take on some precautionary measures to up the chances of a successful surgery.
The following are some of the things you need to keep in mind if you are to undergo an orthopedic operation:
1. Eat, drink, and live healthy.
Shy away from an unhealthy lifestyle if you have a forthcoming surgery. Don’t drink or smoke as these could hamper recovery and discourage doctors from giving the go signal. Increasing fluid intake also clears out the toxins from the body, so make sure that you gulp a good amount of water everyday. It also helps to load up on protein and calcium rich foods since you will need the extra nutrients for your recovery.
2. Increase your strength and endurance level.
An orthopedic surgery will be painful – perhaps even more painful than the pain and discomfort brought about by the disease condition or injury itself. It is therefore essential that you build up your body’s tolerance to pain so that you will more or less get a feel of what the recovery orders might be like. Orthopedic operations will probably leave you with some form of disability for a while, so you might have to depend on other parts of your body to navigate and accomplish activities of daily living.
3. Prepare your surroundings.
The transition from pre-op to post-op surgery will be quite hectic that you won’t be able to find any time in between to make adjustments when it comes to your living situation. You have to make all the changes right before you jump into the treatment process – from reorganizing your furniture to making arrangements for meal deliveries. See to it that you involve other people in your recovery because you won’t certainly achieve a lot when in a wheelchair. Don’t feel bad about this temporary dependence because it is just a normal phase of the entire recovery process.
4. Buy ambulatory equipment.
Hospitals will provide you with ambulatory devices while you are under their care, but they rarely allow patients to bring these home with them. Hence, you might want to purchase your own so that you can still make your way around the house after the surgery. But to make sure you do not waste your money, you should coordinate with your physician and physical therapist about what you get. And see to it that you find a discount provider or a rental service so you do not have to spend too much or deal with them after you are fully recovered from your condition.
5. Avoid drinking and eating supplements that could possibly affect your blood’s coagulation.
As much as possible, your body should be clean. So, you should not take unnecessary medications unless they are doctor-prescribed vitamins. A lot of people drink herbal teas and medications because of their therapeutic effects, but some of them also have a negative influence on your clotting time, and that might just keep you off the operating table for a longer while.
When you submit yourself for an operation, you will most likely be subjected to a series of pre-operative tests for your blood chemistry, cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic condition, as well as your psychological health. And then you will be given a pre-operative check-list that you must accomplish, which basically is everything that has already been advised above. The only thing that you need to settle from that point on would be your hospital care and your accounts. And this shouldn’t take more than two days to do.
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Category: Surgery
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