When we confirm your surgery, we will tell you if and when you should stop eating and drinking in order to be ready for a general anaesthetic. Please arrive on time, as you will need to be registered at reception, admitted by the nursing staff and seen by your anaesthetist (if you are having a general anaesthetic or intravenous sedation (twilight anaesthesia)) and Mr Gault before you go to theatre. There is no longer any need to remove nail varnish from toes and fingers. We ask that you discontinue aspirin medication SEVEN days pre-operatively, Warfarin four days pre-operatively and garlic and ginko tablets two weeks pre-operatively (these medicines can cause unwanted bleeding after surgery).
Because of the increased risk of thrombosis in patients who undergo major surgery under general anaesthetic when on the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy, you are strongly advised to stop taking these medications six weeks before the date of your operation. You may resume two weeks after the surgery. You should contact your Family Doctor to discuss another method of contraception to cover the interval.
Finally we ask you to discontinue Valerian- and Kava-containing herbal medicines two weeks before surgery as these medicines can increase the sedative effects of general anaesthesia.