Memberships

Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital

Total Joint Replacement Center

Before Your Surgery

Pre-Operative Office Evaluation
You should receive this medical history questionnaire from your physician. Please complete it in order to gain admission to the hospital. Bring the completed form with you to the hospital on the day of surgery.

Night Before Surgery
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER 9 P.M. This includes water or coffee. Do not smoke, chew gum or eat mints. If you are taking prescription medications, these should be taken with a small sip of water at the same time that you usually take them.

Medications
Stop taking aspirin and all anti-inflammatory medication 10 days before surgery. These include but are not limited to the following medication:

• Advil
• Ibuprofen
• Aleve
• Motrin
• Naproxen
• Relafen
• Daypro
• Feldene
• Lodine
    

These medications increase the bleeding that occurs during surgery. If you are taking blood thinners, MAO inhibitors or diet pills, please notify your surgeon immediately.

Continue taking all other medication that has been prescribed for you. This includes heart, asthma, blood pressure, seizure, diabetic medications and prednisone/cortisone. You should take these medications on the day of surgery in the same manner that you would normally take them, but only with a small sip of water. If you use an inhaler, please bring it with you.

Diabetic patients: Do NOT take insulin the morning of surgery. If you are taking oral diabetic medication, bring it with you. When you come to the hospital, the nurse will check your blood sugar and the anesthesiologist will regulate your insulin accordingly.

Bring a list of your current prescription medications, dosages or the pill bottles with you for review by the nurse. You will not be taking your own medications in the hospital. These have to be recorded by the pharmacist and administered by the nurse in accordance with hospital policy.