Sedation Information and Instructions

PRE-OPERATIVE

  1. Do not eat or drink anything, including water, lozenges, or chewing gum after midnight the night before surgery.
  2. Medication: You may take some medications the morning of surgery. Your doctor will go over the permissible medications with you. If there are any medications not discussed with the doctor that you feel you need to take, please bring them to the office on the day of the procedure.
  3. Avoid aspirin for 10 days prior to surgery unless your physician states otherwise.
  4. Do not wear jewelry, including contact lenses, fingernail paint or polish.
  5. You cannot drive or utilize public transportation once you’ve been conscious sedated. You must arrange for escort transportation prior to appointment. Escort must be available during entire length of scheduled appointment.
  6. Mental and physical activity should be limited until full alertness returns following your conscious sedation. You should; therefore, also make prior arrangements with your escort to stay with you the remainder of the day and night.
  7. Minors must have a responsible adult with them during procedure and the remainder of the day and night.
  8. If a change in your physical condition develops prior to surgery (a cold, persistent cough, fever, other), please call your doctor.
  9. Please do not bring children other than those scheduled for a procedure. Child care arrangements must be made prior to the day of procedure.
  10. Please wear loose clothing to enable us to attach monitors. We have blankets if you are cold.

POST-OPERATIVE

The person you are escorting has received medications which alter their mental function. Although over 90% of the effects are worn off by the time patient leaves the office, there will be some lingering effects. Please remain with this patient for the remainder of the day (approximately 8 hours) to help this patient do the following things:

  1. Do not allow patient to drive until tomorrow.
  2. Review the pre-printed surgical post-operative instructions with the patient.
  3. Help the patient walk, get into the car and into their house by holding them the entire time.
  4. Remove gauze before patient goes to sleep. Gauze is normally only necessary for 2 hours after procedure.
  5. Encourage patient to increase their fluid intake today.
  6. Pain medication may be taken an hour after discharge from our office.
  7. The patient should defer any responsible or complicated tasks or any decision requiring fine judgment for the remainder of the day.