The Day of Your Surgery

On the day of your surgery at Tufts Medical Center, please follow these instructions:

  • You may have water or sports drinks (Gatorade®, Powerade® or Pedialyte®) up until 2 hours before your surgery time.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing and low heeled comfortable shoes. 
  • Remove all jewelry, including rings and body piercings. Swelling may occur in your hands during surgery. Your rings may become too tight, which could affect the circulation in your fingers. Notify the nurse in advance if you have any questions or concerns. 
  • Leave your contact lenses at home and bring eyeglasses. 
  • Bring your crutches or walker or any other assistive device with you.
  • Bring the name and telephone number of the responsible adult that will be escorting you home. 
  • Bring your blue hospital card and insurance card.
  • If you have a health care proxy or advance directive, bring it with you. 
  • Bring your medication list to the hospital with you.
  • If you have not been evaluated by an anesthesiologist prior, you will meet a member of your anesthesia care team to examine you and discuss your anesthetic and pain treatment options.
  • Do not bring any valuables, such as jewelry, credit cards, checkbooks or large amounts of cash, with you.
  • You will be asked to sign an informed consent. Read it carefully. Make sure everything on the form is correct. Make sure all of your questions have been answered. If you do not understand something on the form, ask someone to explain.
  • The staff may ask you the same questions many times. They will ask: your name, what kind of surgery you are having, and the part of your body to be operated on. This is for your safety.
  • Inform your surgeon and/or anesthesiologist if you have been previously told that you have a “difficult airway.”
  • A health care worker might mark the spot on your body to be operated on. Make sure they mark only the correct part and nowhere else.
  • Marking usually happens when you are awake. If you cannot be awake for the marking, an authorized individual will assist in the marking process.
  • Your surgeon will take a “time out” just before surgery. This is done to make sure they are doing the right surgery on the right body part on the right person.
  • Occasionally, emergency cases arise which cause unplanned delays. We apologize in advance for any wait you may experience and ask for your patience.
  • If you are having a day procedure, you will stay in the recovery area for 90 minutes after your surgery and will need someone 18 years of age or older to accompany you home.