What you should do before and after surgery

In short: Before laparoscopy: no food or drink for at least 8 hours, stop aspirin 5 days before, take blood pressure tablets on the morning of the operation with a little water, and arrive two hours early. After the operation: take the antibiotic and painkiller for at least 5 days, keep the wounds dry for a week, have the stitches removed after a week, and avoid heavy lifting and sport for a month.

-Please stop eating food 6 hours before the operation. You may drink clear fluids (water, clear juice without pulp, tea or coffee without milk) up to 2 hours before, unless your anaesthetist gives you different instructions.

-If you are taking any blood-thinning medications (such as Aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or newer anticoagulants), tell your doctor well before the operation. Do not stop them on your own — especially if you have a heart stent or a history of stroke — your doctor and cardiologist will tell you whether and when to stop.

-Most blood-pressure medications are taken on the morning of the operation with sips of water, but some types are paused; please ask your doctor or anaesthetist which of your tablets to take.

-Please do not shave the genital area before the operation; shaving with a razor can increase the risk of wound infection. If hair removal is needed, the nursing staff will use clippers on the day of surgery.

Looking after this area at home is covered in our guide to wound care after surgery.

-Please come to the hospital two hours before operation, so you can prepare admission papers, and nursing staff could prepare you well, and take off jewelry, your hand watch, and remove nail polish before leaving home.

-If the surgery includes abdominal incision, the nursing staff will catheterize your bladder.

-Nursing staff will give you Antibiotics to minimize the risk for infection, and pain killers will be given as needed.

-Please inform the nursing staff, if you have an allergy to any type of medication.

-After surgery you should do the following:

1- Try to drink a lot of water daily.

2- Avoid baths, hot tubs and swimming until the wounds have healed; you can take showers (usually from 48 hours after the operation), letting water run over the wound and then patting it dry.

3- Do not start any new painkillers or supplements (such as aspirin or vitamin E) without asking your doctor. If you normally take aspirin or another blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to restart it.

4- Commit to take all drugs that the doctor has described.

5- Avoid heavy lifting and standing for long time, and avoid squat position.

6- Start walking as soon as you can after the operation and increase gradually, as this speeds recovery and lowers the risk of blood clots. Avoid strenuous exercise until your doctor advises (often 2–6 weeks depending on the operation); you’re not allowed to have intercourse after the operation for a period of time decided according to the type of the operation.

Dr Najeeb Layyous F.R.C.O.G

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist