Surgery Instructions

General Surgery Pre-Operative Guidelines

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Preparing for surgery is an important part of ensuring a safe procedure and the best possible outcome. While each procedure has its own specific instructions, there are several key guidelines that apply to all surgical procedures.

In general, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure, including water. This also means no gum, mints, hard candy or tobacco on the morning of surgery. Following these instructions is critical for your safety while under anesthesia.

On the day of your procedure, please plan ahead. You will need to bring:

• A valid driver’s license or photo ID
• Your insurance cards
• A complete and up-to-date list of your medications

For your safety, you are required to have a responsible adult accompany you, remain at the facility during your procedure, and drive you home afterward. You will not be allowed to proceed with surgery without appropriate transportation arrangements.

Some medications can affect your procedure outcome and require planning ahead. Please make us aware of ALL of your medication well in advance of your procedure, especially the following:

1. Blood Thinners (DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS UNLESS WE HAVE CLEARED IT WITH YOUR CARDIOLOGIST)
2. Weight Loss medications
3. Iron
4. GLP-1 Injections

Please notify our office of any underlying heart conditions or recent heart procedures you may have had.

Please also be aware that facility fees are typically due prior to the day of surgery, and you should be prepared to complete any required payments in advance. You can contact the facility directly to ask about their payment policy:

• South Arkansas Surgery Center - (870) 862-1636
• South Arkansas Regional Hospital - (870) 863-2000

Each procedure has detailed, specific instructions that are provided to you in advance and are also available for download on this page. It is your responsibility to carefully read and follow all instructions provided for your procedure.

Failure to follow pre-operative instructions may place you at risk and can result in your procedure being delayed or canceled. In accordance with our office policy, cancellations due to non-compliance will result in a $150 late cancellation fee.

Our goal is to provide every patient with the safest experience and the best possible outcome. Careful preparation and adherence to all pre-operative instructions play a critical role in achieving that goal.

Post-Operative Instructions

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The following instructions will provide helpful information that will assist your recovery. These are designed to be general guidelines and are not specific to any one surgery. Remember, everyone recovers differently. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor.

You should have gotten a post-op appointment when you were discharged from the facility. If you did not, please call our office to make an appointment for follow up.

Pain Medication

• You will be given a prescription for a pain medicine after surgery.
• Please follow the direction on the label.
• Do not drive while taking pain medication.
• Do not take pain medication on an empty stomach. This may make you nauseated.
• Use a stool softener (Colace) or gentle laxative(MiraLAX or Dulcolax), as constipation is not uncommon with some pain medication.
• If you no longer need your prescribed pain medication, you may take over the counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) for pain.

Activity

• If at all possible, have someone to help you at all times.
• Listen to your body and rest when you are tired.
• For 12-24 hours after your operation, you may feel slightly nauseated, lightheaded, or dizzy. These are normal reactions and will pass with sufficient rest.
• Do not lift anything heavy (over 15 pounds) or as directed by your physician.
• Do not drive a motor vehicle; operate machinery or power tools for 24 hours or while taking pain medications.

Diet

• Advance to your diet as directed by your physician slowly over the next day or two.
• You may resume your normal diet if you are not having problems with nausea and vomiting. Avoid greasy, fried or spicy foods.
• Start with a bland diet and then work your way up to a regular diet as tolerated.
• Do not drink alcohol in the immediate postoperative period while taking pain medication.
• Whole foods and a good intake of water will help with constipation.

Wound Care

• Always wash your hands with warm soap and water before and after caring for your wound.
• If you have a gauze bandage over the incision, you may remove it the morning after your surgery. At that time, you may shower.
• If you had a port inserted, you should have a clear dressing over the site. You can shower but you do not need to get this wet for at least 3-4 days.
• If you have narrow white tape strips over the incision (steri-strips), keep them dry for 48 hours. Do not remove them unless they are curling up at the side and almost falling off (if you remove them sooner, you risk pulling the incision apart).
• Staples or sutures are generally removed in 7-14 days.
• Many incisions will have buried absorbable sutures, which do not need to be removed.

Showering

• You may shower the day after your surgery.
• You may clean your incisions gently with clean hands and an antimicrobial soap(dial). Rinse and pat dry.
• Do not soak in the bathtub or submerge your incisions until instructed by your doctor.

Drain Care

• If you have a drain, record the time and amount of drainage on a piece of paper. Empty the drain every few hours or as needed. The nurse will explain how the drain works before you are discharged from the hospital.
• Please keep our office informed of the output amounts. We will remove your drain once the drainage decreases significantly.

Call or text the office at 870-881-9311 if you have the following:

• Your temperature is 101°F or higher. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever after surgery.
• You have new redness around the incision or if pus drains from the incision.
• Severe bleeding occurs. Apply direct pressure to the area.
• Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or jaundice occurs (yellow tint to eyes or skin).
• White or clay colored stools
• Call 911 in an emergency or go to your nearest Emergency Room.

Download these instructions