Preparing for Your Head and Neck Oncology Surgery (The James)

Preparing for Your Head and Neck Oncology Surgery (The James)

 

Read and follow these instructions, to prepare for your surgery. You may need to stop or change certain medicines. You also may need to contact your health insurance provider.

 

Weeks Before Surgery

  • If you get sick with a cold, sore throat, cough or fever in the 2 weeks before your surgery, call the surgeon’s office. Your surgery may need to be rescheduled.
  • If you need paperwork filled out for medical leave or disability, you may drop off, mail, or fax them to the surgeon’s office. You will need to allow up to 14 days to get the forms completed. If you have any questions, please call the surgeon’s office.
    • Fax number: 614-293-3193
  • Make sure you have an adult to take you home after surgery or your hospital stay.
  • You may need to have some tests done before your surgery (blood tests, X-rays or other tests your doctor feels are needed).
  • You may have an appointment to see an internal medicine doctor for a history and physical before your surgery. This may be referred to as OPAC (OSU Preoperative Assessment Center).
  • Your surgeon may also refer you to a dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist and/or speech therapist.
  • Tell your doctor about any medicines you take to thin your blood or prevent clots. You may need to change these medicines or adjust the amount you take before your surgery. Your nurse and health care team will help you fill out the following table.

Medicines to STOP days before surgery

 

Medicines       

 

                                            

 

 

                 

 

 

 

Number of days to stop before surgery  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Medicines to STOP morning of surgery

 

 

Medicines to TAKE the morning of surgery

 

 
  • If you have a stent or you have had a blood clot, talk to the doctor who placed the stent or treated your blood clot before you stop taking this medicine. Your medicine may need to be changed or adjusted before surgery.
  • If your surgery date gets changed, and you had stopped or changed your medicine to prevent clots, call your doctor. You may need to restart the medicine while you wait for your surgery to get scheduled.

 

The Day Before Surgery

  • You will receive a call the day before your surgery to tell you the time of your surgery. The person calling will tell you when you should arrive and answer any other questions you may have.
  • You will receive 2 carbohydrate drinks. Drink 1 bottle the evening before your surgery. Drink 1 bottle the morning of your surgery.
    • Do NOT eat or drink anything except your carbohydrate drink after midnight before your surgery.
  • You will wash with a special soap. Refer to the "Getting Your Skin Ready for Surgery" handout in this book to learn how to wash your skin with a special soap, called chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), also known by the brand name of Hibiclens.

 

 

© July 12, 2022. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care.