CHAPTER 10
YOUR ECK OPERATIO
You have agreed to surgery for your neck problem. The extent, complications
and outcomes have been addressed by your specialist.
The following information will be helpful in preparing for your surgical pro-
cedure.
Pre-operative information
Have you informed your specialist of any other conditions and medications
including dosages that you are taking? If not, please do and do not forget to
have this information at pre-admission and when you are seen by the anaes-
thetist.
Please note that the use of blood-thinning medication is dangerous if not
stopped in time before surgery due to the decreased clotting that blood-thin-
ning medication causes. This can lead to uncontrollable bleeding during sur-
gery. It is important to stop taking aspirin at least ten days prior to surgery. If
you are taking Warfarin, this should be stopped according to instructions from
your specialist or anaesthetist. If you are taking other chronic medication it is
important that you check with your specialist whether you should be taking
these on the morning of surgery or not.
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