Learn more about what you can expect with outpatient surgery at Meridian Surgery Center.

Expect a pre-operative phone call and least 2 days prior to your surgery.

During this call we need the following information:

• The name and phone number of your escort the day of surgery.Keep in mind you will need someone to bring you in, take you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours. You will not be permitted to drive yourself home or take any kind of taxi or public transportation.
• We will ask you if you wear any “assistive devices” this includes dentures, hearing aids, glasses, or any other removable devices.
• A complete medical history including previous surgeries.
• The names and doses of all medications you are currently taking at home including supplements. We will discuss with you which medications you can and cannot take the morning of surgery.
• Medication allergies
• We will ask you if your Physician requested any laboratory tests, EKG, MRI or any medical clearances that may be medically indicated for your particular surgery.

• You should not eat or drink anything including water after 11:59 the night before surgery. This includes chewing gum, mints and hard candy.

The reason for this is that you must have as little food, drink or stomach acid in their stomach as possible at the time of anesthesia and surgery. Upon eating or drinking, it takes at least six to eight hours for food and/or drink to leave the stomach and enter the intestines. By having you not eat or drink after 11:59 PM on the night before your day of surgery, your stomach should be empty by the time of anesthesia and surgery. This decreases the chances that you will experience nausea, vomiting or an upset stomach with anesthesia.

If you take certain medicines regularly in the morning, exceptions may be made to allow you to take their medication with small sips of water on the morning of surgery. We will discuss with you what medications you may take the morning of surgery during your pre-operative call.

• Avoid alcohol and cigarettes at least 24 hours prior to your surgery.
• Prepare a place that you can comfortably rest when you return home from surgery. Keep in mind a bathroom should be close by and stairs should be avoided for safety reasons.
• Most surgeries performed at our center require the ice application after surgery. Have either your ice machine ready to bring into the center the morning of surgery or ice packs prepared in the freezer for your return home from surgery.

• During your pre-operative call we will give you an arrival time and the time that your surgery starts. Please arrive promptly at your requested arrival time, so that we can appropriately prepare you for surgery.
• When you arrive at the center you will be welcomed by our front office administrative staff. They will request that you fill out the proper paperwork for surgery.
• Next a nurse will take you from the waiting room to our admitting area where you will sign the required consent forms for your surgery.
• The nurse will assist you in changing into a gown and then will obtain vital signs and obtain IV access. During this short time your family or friend will wait in the waiting room.

Remember to bring:

• Insurance card and Photo ID;
• Responsible adult to drive you home, and whom we can discuss discharge instructions with;
• Comfortable clothes and shoes;
• A case for your glasses, contacts, dentures or hearing aids (if you wear them);
• Bring any needed equipment identified by your surgeon such as: neck collar, shoulder sling, knee brace, ankle brace, shoe, walker or ice machine etc.;
• Patients under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to be present in the surgery center during the entire surgical stay.

Be prepared by:

• Leaving valuables such as any jewelry or electronics at home.
• Do not wear make-up and make sure nail polish is removed.
• Do not use any lotions, creams, or aftershave, and do not wear perfume.
• Do not use hairspray, mousse, or gels.
• Do not shave or use deodorants near the site of surgery.
• Take off ALL body piercings.