Preparing for Surgery

Learn what questions to ask in advance, what to do at home, and more so you surgery can be as safe and successful as possible.
Knowing what to expect and how best to prepare for a surgery can not only help keep you safe and improve outcomes, but help you approach your procedure with more confidence.
Nurse getting ready to insert butterfly needle into patient's arm
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fever, temperature, thermometer
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Surgeon tying his mask
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Surgeon talking to patient before surgery
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Hispanic female doctor smiling at patient being wheeled into operating room
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Close up of surgical tools and money
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Anesthetist in an operating room
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Surgeon operating patient on table at hospital
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Surgeon talking to patient before surgery
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Nurse getting blood from on a female donor
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Patient with a respiratory mask on operating table
Why You Can't Eat or Drink Before Surgery
A doctor holding six blood tests
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Surgeon and team position patient under xray machine
Why You Must Remove Jewelry and Piercings Before Surgery
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Anesthetist administering gas to patient
Types of Anesthesia Used During Surgery
Automated blood sample testing in laboratory for healthcare screening.
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Surgeons performing surgery in operating room
Getting Ready for Surgery the Right Way
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a surgeon putting on gloves
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Doctor attending patient at ICU
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woman getting sick on toilet
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anesthesia
Pot Use: How Marijuana Can Affect Your Surgery
Scalpel on surgical cloth, close-up
How to Decide If You Need Surgery
a person facing away from camera and holding a model of a kidney
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Nurse giving pill to a patient in hospital bed.
These Are the Commonly Used Medications Before and After Surgery
Man talking to his doctor
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Urinary catheter bag
How Catheters Are Used After Surgery
Vial of blood being picked up by a gloved hand
Understanding Common Blood Tests and What They Mean
woman going under Anesthesia
Anesthesia Awareness Is a Rare Complication of Surgery
Blood Sample Tube in Hand
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Administering drugs through a central line.
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A scientist viewing a blood sample under a microscope
Blood Work Tests Before Surgery
Blood test vials
Common Tests: Before and After Surgery
patient talking to doctor
Important Questions to Ask Before You Have Surgery
Depression and Surgery Image
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patient resting after surgery with doctor writing on a chart
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man calculating bill
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Anesthesia and Surgery Image
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Operating nurse soothing patient on table in operating room
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Surgeon consulting a patient, holding hands, getting ready for surgery
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Pensive adult black patient looking away to the window while lying down on hospital bed
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Three Surgeons in Scrubs and Protective Masks Look Down at a Patient on a Hospital Trolley
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Cardiac ablation surgery about to begin
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Preparing for ACL surgery, doctor checks patient's knee
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Surgical nurse wheeling patient to surgery in hospital
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Taking laxatives with clear liquids for bowel prep for surgery
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prepare for gallbladder surgery
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