SurgiCare
Cape Fear Valley SurgiCare and Highsmith-Rainey SurgiCare offer outpatient surgery with the added safety of a hospital setting.

Most surgeons require pre-surgical testing prior to your surgery date. Pre-surgical testing may include:

• Medical history
• Laboratory studies
• EKG
• Chest X-ray
• Evaluation of Pacemaker or AICD, if you have one

If your surgery will be performed at Cape Fear Valley SurgiCare, you will probably have your pre-surgical testing done at Cape Fear Valley Diagnostic Center at 524 Beaumont Road.

If your surgery will be performed at Highsmith-Rainey SurgiCare, you will probably have your pre-surgical testing done at Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital at 150 Robeson Street.

Your surgeon will schedule your pre-surgical testing appointment and notify you of the location.

If you are having outpatient surgery, a responsible adult must be available to drive you home when you are ready for discharge. The drugs and/or anesthesia you will receive will make it unsafe for you to drive a motor vehicle, walk home or travel alone by bus or taxi.

If your child is having surgery, we strongly recommend that someone other than the driver be available to care for the child during the trip home as some children experience nausea and dizziness.

Because patients who are scheduled for outpatient surgery do not come to the hospital until the morning of their surgery, there are a number of preparations they need to make the night before surgery and the morning of their surgery. For more information, please click on the links below.

Getting Ready For Surgery Brochure
About Your Surgery Brochure

The Night Before Surgery

• If you were given a red identification band in the Laboratory, do not remove it until you are discharged.
• Please follow any bowel prep instructions given to you by your surgeon or pre-testing nurse. Not all surgeries require a bowel prep.
• Eat a light supper.
• Do not eat or drink anything after mid-night, including water, coffee, candy or chewing gum.
• Remove all fingernail and toenail polish.
• Do not drink any alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your operation. Alcohol may increase the effect of the medicines you are given.
• If you smoke, it is recommended that you avoid smoking 24 hours before surgery.
• Pack an overnight bag if your surgeon has told you that you may be staying in the hospital.
• Call your surgeon if you develop a fever, rash or cold prior to surgery.

Medication Guidelines For The Day Of Surgery

Many medications can be taken the morning of surgery with a small sip of water only. The following are guidelines for some common medications unless your surgeon has instructed you otherwise.

• Blood pressure and heart medications should be taken as usual the morning of surgery with a small sip of water.
• Heartburn, ulcer and thyroid medications should be taken with a sip of water.
• Seizure and mental health medications should be taken with a sip of water.
• Inhalers and asthma medications should be used the morning of surgery. Please bring them with you.
• If you are taking aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen Sodium or blood thinners, follow your surgeon’s instructions. Many surgeons ask their patients to stop these types of medications before surgery.
• Insulin and diabetic medications should not be taken the morning of surgery. If you have any questions, please call your surgeon.

 

The Morning Of Surgery

• If you did not pre-test for surgery, please bring a list of medications with you on surgery day.
• Leave all jewelry, money and other valuables at home.
• Please do not wear make-up, perfume, powder or lotions.
• If you wear dentures, a partial plate, contact lenses or other prosthesis, you will be asked to remove them just before going to surgery. Bring your storage container and solution for your contact lenses.
• If you have long hair, braid it or secure it in a rubber band or cloth pony tail holder. Hairpins, hair clasps and hair combs must be removed.

Brush your teeth the morning of surgery, but do not swallow any water.