Common Medical Concerns
The majority of our patients have medical issues beyond their planned surgery. Whether you are on medication for diabetes or have congestive heart failure, we will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have.
During your pre-admission testing (PAT) appointment, you will receive instruction on what medications to take. If necessary, we may also contact your primary care doctor or specialist to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery.
A number of our patients are on long-term pain medication to treat back pain, cancer, or a variety of other ailments. Many patients have concerns about pain control after their surgery. We generally recommend continuing your chronic pain medications as prescribed, except for NSAID-type medications. Some medications like Suboxone need to be discontinued before surgery. This is best done by coordinating the transition with your pain doctor.
Anticoagulants are excellent drugs for preventing blood clots in blood vessels and strokes. However, most anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding during an operation. If you are taking an anticoagulant, please let us know during your pre-admission appointment. We feel it is best to manage these medications with the help of your primary doctor or specialist, and we will often discuss with them the best way to manage these medications during your operation.
Many of our patients have a history of heart attack and have stents or heart failure. As having any surgery is a stress on the body, we are always very concerned about making sure your heart is healthy enough for an operation. This is best done by contacting your cardiologist before surgery to make sure your medications are appropriate and no additional testing needs to be performed.
Usually, we will have you stop any blood thinners before surgery with your cardiologist’s permission and continue your other medication. If you have had any recent heart studies performed, please let our pre-admission nurses know so that we can have these records available for your operation.
If you have asthma, COPD, or another lung issue, it is best to continue taking your inhaled medications as prescribed. If you are on oxygen, you should continue to use it normally. Please let your anesthesiologist know if you have been having any recent difficulties breathing.
Normally, we will ask how often you are using your rescue inhaler. After surgery, we will monitor your breathing closely as you recover. It is not uncommon for patients to need oxygen or an extra breathing treatment following an anesthetic.
If you are on dialysis, it is best to continue your dialysis as scheduled. When you meet your anesthesiologist, we will ask about your last dialysis session. We will also draw a potassium level prior to surgery. Please let us know if and where you have an AV fistula or shunt so that we can place a blood pressure cuff and IV appropriately.