Starvation – We require that for morning lists starting at 8am, you do not eat after midnight the day before your procedure. For afternoon lists, you may have a light breakfast before 7am. You may drink clear fluids up to 3 hours before your anaesthetic. Clear fluids are water, black tea or coffee (including sugar).Milk, on its own or in tea or coffee, fruit juice and alcoholic drinks must be avoided.

                   Regular Medication – You should take regular medication when you normally                                   take it with the following exceptions.

                Diabetic Tablets- You should not take diabetic medication on the day of your procedure.

Aspirin and Clopidogril- These are usually discontinued for 7 days before your procedure. However, if you are undergoing a cardiac surgical or cardiological intervention, your surgeon or cardiologist will advise you as to whether to stop or continue with these medicines.

Warfarin/Riveroxiban/Apixaban- If you are taking any of these blood thinning drugs please ask your surgeon or cardiologist whether or not to continue taking it before your procedure

ACE Inhibitors – These drugs should be omitted on the day of surgery. They are drugs that end in –pril, such as ramipril, enalapril, and lisinopril. Also avoid drugs that end in –sartan, such as losartan, candersartan, and valsartan.

Herbal and Alternative Medicines- We advise that you discontinue alternative or herbal remedies a week before your procedure.

Smoking- We strongly advise that you consider stopping smoking before your operation. Even stopping for 48 hours before will be of benefit to you during your anaesthetic. Remember that hospitals are non smoking environments so you may require nicotine patches if you will be staying overnight in hospital.

Dental Work- We advise that if you have any loose teeth or dental work that you visit your dentist prior to your procedure.