Before Surgery

You will not be permitted to eat or drink anything after 12 a.m. the day of your surgery. You should plan to arrive at the outpatient surgery center or Sibley Memorial hospital 2 hours prior to your scheduled procedure so that you can get prepped for surgery and meet with the surgical team, anesthesiology team, nurses, and OR staff. Be sure to leave all jewelry, money and valuables at home, as well as contact lenses. Come dressed in loose fitting clothing and non-skid shoes that are easy to put on and take off.Before your procedure, you will be given intravenous antibiotics, as well as medications to control pain and nausea. The entire surgery should take no more than approximately 90 minutes, although you will spend several hours in post-operative recovery. Before being sent home, you will meet with a physical therapist, who will help you get up and begin walking using a crutch and/or walker.

 

When you return home

Once you return home, you should receive a follow-up phone call from your surgeon or a physician’s assistant the night of your surgery. Although you will attend a follow-up visit with Dr. Siram within approximately 2 weeks, be sure to contact our office if you experience any sudden pain or other serious symptoms, such as:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fever greater than 101
  • Uncontrolled nausea and/or vomiting

 

Additional Post Operative Information

Further post-operative details can be found in these Post-Op Protocols: