My Spine - Lumbar
This can lead to uncontrollable bleeding during surgery. It is important to stop
taking aspirin at least 10 days prior to surgery. If you are taking Warfarin, this
should be stopped according to instructions from your specialist or anaes-
thetist. If you are taking other chronic medication it is important that you
check with your specialist whether you should be taking these on the morn-
ing of surgery or not. If you are not sure, your anaesthetist will advise you.
On the day of your operation
You will be asked to come in well in advance of your scheduled operating
time to allow enough time for your admission to the ward, and for the nurses
to go through the anaesthetic check-list with you. Unfortunately it is not pos-
sible to give you an exact time that you would be going to theatre, and it may
be that you have to wait a long time before you go to theatre, since operating
times can be very unpredictable.
The anaesthetist will consult with you before your anaesthetic to ensure that
the safest and most appropriate anaesthetic is administered.
othing to eat or drink - fasting ('il by mouth')
If there is any food or liquid in your stomach during your anaesthetic, it could
come up into the back of your throat and then go into your lungs. This could
cause serious damage to your lungs. You should not eat or drink anything for
at least six hours prior to surgery. If, for instance, you have been told to arrive
at 10h00, you may usually have some clear fluids at 06h00 the morning of
your surgery. It is important to check with your specialist about this.
Premedication
Premedication (a 'premed') is the name for drugs (tablet) that are sometimes
given before an anaesthetic, although today they are not always used. They
are used to sedate and calm you before your operation.
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