How to prepare for surgery

Preparing for surgery can include taking care of your health, learning as much as you can about the procedure, and getting to know the people who will be taking care of you. Planning ahead can help ensure you have a successful procedure, lower stress levels, and on top of that, help you heal faster with a smooth recovery.

Pre Assessment Clinic

It is essential that you understand everything about your procedure, including possible complications and side effects. This will be done through an outpatient appointment or a pre-assessment with your surgeon and specialist nurse. During this time, you will have the chance to ask any questions or express any concerns you may have. The doctor may also give you written information about surgery and how you should prepare.

Tests to check you are fit for surgery

Before any operation, you need to have some tests to make sure you are well enough to have the anaesthetic and to ensure you will make a successful recovery. You may have only a few of the tests below or all of them depending on your situation.

• Blood Tests: Show if you have any medical problems that may need to be treated before surgery begins, whether you might need special care during or after, and if there is any risk of anything going wrong.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram): Checks the health of your heart. Small sticky pads are placed on your chest with wires attached. Your heartbeat is shown as an electrical trace on a screen.
• Urine Tests: Check that your kidneys are working normally and if there are any infections. You may also have a pregnancy test.
• Chest X-Ray: Checks the health of your lungs and looks for infections.
• Scans/X-Ray: May be needed to check the position and size of your cancer, and whether it has spread.
• Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test: Checks your lung and heart function when resting and exercising.
• Breathing Tests: Lung function tests to check your lung health.
• Take Swabs: Usually taken from your nose but can include other parts of your body. This checks for a bacteria called MRSA.

Prehabilitation

This is a form of healthcare intervention that takes place before a medical or surgical procedure with the aim of reducing side effects and complications, and enhancing recovery.

By exercising, eating healthy, and managing your weight, you can have a more successful surgery and a shorter recovery time. This will reduce the risk of complications, such as blood clots and slow wound healing.

Although the waiting times before surgery can become overwhelming with thoughts of being scared, anxious, or worried, research has shown that the following tips can help boost your feel-good hormones. Preparing for surgery with these simple tips will speed recovery times, keep your mind positive when waiting for surgery dates, and improve your health.

• Physical Health: Your heart and lungs will have to work harder after an operation to help your body heal. Regular exercise makes your heart and lungs stronger, so they’ll be in the best possible shape to help you recover.
• Healthy Eating: Improving your diet before surgery strengthens your immune system, reduces infection risk, and provides your body with the nutrients it needs for tissue healing.
• Managing your Weight:
  Overweight: Increases the risk of breathing problems, blood clots, infections, slower recovery, and longer hospital stays. Even losing a little weight before the operation will help reduce these risks.
  Underweight: Can also increase risks from surgery and slow down recovery. If you’ve been poorly, you may have lost your appetite, causing your body to lose calories and nutrients it needs to recover properly.

Consent Form

Before you have any operation, you need to sign a consent form. This is a written agreement between you and the surgeon, saying that you give permission for them to do the operation.

For the consent to be valid it must include:

• The decision to either consent or not to consent to treatment must be made by you and must not be influenced by pressure from medical staff, friends, or family.
• You must be given all of the information about what the surgery involves, including the benefits and risks.
• You must be capable of giving consent, meaning you understand the information given to you and can use it to make an informed decision.

Before you sign the form, your surgeon may explain the examples below:

• Why you need the operation
• Whether you have any other treatment options
• What the aim of the surgery is
• How they will do the surgery
• Any risks or complications
• Possible side effects of the surgery and whether they are short or long term

You may also see a specialist nurse who can help you go over the details again and answer any questions. Sign the consent form only when you fully understand.

For more tips read - How to Make your Stay in Hospital Comfortable