Day of Surgery

The Day of Your Surgery

A short guide for the morning of, what to bring, and what to expect at the hospital.

Cotton O'Neil Neurosurgery and Spine Center — Stormont Vail Health

The night before

• Shower with Hibiclens. Wash your whole body. Avoid your face, ears, and genitals. Rinse thoroughly. Don't put on regular soap, lotion, deodorant, or perfume after.
• Eat a light, normal dinner.
• Stop eating after midnight. No solid food, no chewing gum, no mints, no tobacco.
• Clear liquids (water, black coffee, apple juice, plain tea) may be allowed up to a specific time before arrival — the anesthesia team will tell you when to stop.
• Lay out your clothes and bag for the morning.
• Get to bed early. You will feel better in the morning than you expect to.

The morning of

• Shower with Hibiclens again. Same instructions: full body, avoid face/ears/genitals, no soap or lotion after.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Slip-on shoes. No jewelry, no piercings, no makeup, no nail polish, no contact lenses.
• Take only the medications anesthesia told you to take, with a small sip of water.
• Bring your bag.
• Arrive at the hospital at the time you were instructed — usually about two hours before your scheduled surgery time.

What to bring

At the hospital

1. Check in at registration. Bring your ID and insurance card.
2. Change into a hospital gown. A nurse will take your vital signs and start your IV.
3. Meet your team — the anesthesiologist, the operating-room nurses, and Dr. Tuchek. This is your last chance to ask any questions before surgery.
4. Walk back to the operating room with the team. Your family stays in the waiting area.

During the operation

• Most operations run from one to three hours depending on what we are doing.
• Hospital staff will give your family periodic updates during longer cases.
• Dr. Tuchek will speak with your family in the consultation area as soon as the operation is over — before you have fully woken up. They will know how it went before you do.

When you wake up

• You will be in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
• Some grogginess, a mild sore throat, and some nausea are all normal.
• The recovery team manages pain and side effects actively.
• You will be moved to a regular room or discharged home depending on what we did and how you are doing.

When to call before surgery

Call our office at (785) 368-0767 the day before or the morning of surgery if:

• You develop a fever, cough, or new illness
• You have a new cut, rash, or skin infection near the surgical area
• You become aware you took a medication anesthesia told you not to take
• You have second thoughts about going forward. We will not be upset. We would rather you raise the question now than have it lingering as you go to sleep.

A note from Dr. Tuchek

A little nervousness is normal. Take a deep breath. The team you will meet has done this thousands of times. We have spent more time getting ready for tomorrow than you have. You are in good hands.

If a question comes up, call our office at (785) 368-0767 during clinic hours — we would rather hear from you than have you worrying. For anything urgent tonight, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department; the clinic line is not staffed overnight.

See you in the morning.

Cotton O'Neil Neurosurgery and Spine Center — Stormont Vail Health Cotton O'Neil Kanza Park · 1st Floor · 2660 SW 3rd St · Topeka, KS 66606 · (785) 368-0767 chadtuchekmd.com

This handout provides general guidance for patients of Dr. Chad Tuchek at Cotton O'Neil Neurosurgery and Spine Center, Stormont Vail Health. It is not individualized medical advice. Always follow the specific instructions you receive from your surgeon, the pre-anesthesia team, and your discharge paperwork. For medical emergencies, call 911.