Day of your surgery: Logistics

Here’s what you need to do and bring to the hospital for your surgery.

Personal grooming

Do not wear perfume, makeup, deodorant, or nail polish.

You may brush your teeth on the morning of surgery.

Wear your glasses instead of contact lenses.

 Wear layers of comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

What not to bring

Leave any valuables at home, including jewelry, cash, and credit cards

Arrive at your check-in time

Your check-in time may be several hours before your actual surgery time. Your surgery time is an estimate. Your actual start time may be delayed by emergencies. If you are concerned about waiting, please tell your patient access representative (PAS) or your pre-op nursing team when you check in. They can update you if there is a delay.

Check in for surgery

Go to the Stanford Cancer Center where your surgery will take place, either in Palo Alto or South Bay. See “Preparing for Your First Appointment” for details about driving directions and parking.

Day of your surgery: Consultations and procedures

Your surgical care team is ready for you, and we’re here to answer your questions.

Anesthesia and pain management

You may want a sedative (medication that reduces anxiety) to help you relax before surgery. You can ask your pre-operative nurse to order you one when you check in.

You will have already met with your anesthesiologist before going back to surgery to discuss your options and preferences for anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will stand near your head to administer the anesthesia and monitor you before and during surgery.

Your surgeon may also give you a local anesthetic and may perform nerve blocks if needed. The surgeon may order pain medication before your procedure to help with inflammation and pain in the immediate recovery period.

Talk with your surgeon

You will have an opportunity to briefly speak with your surgeon in the few minutes leading up to surgery. Your surgeon will review the consent form with you and initial on the operative side, if required per hospital protocol.

Doctors in training at your surgery

Stanford is a teaching hospital. Your surgeon may have a medical student, resident, fellow, or surgical assistant working in the operating room. Your surgeon will perform all the important aspects of the procedure and manage your care. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your surgeon before the day of your surgery.

During your surgery

As your surgical team prepares you for surgery, we keep you covered with blankets for warmth.

You may need a catheter (a thin, sterile tube inserted through your urethra into your bladder to drain urine). If so, the care team will place the catheter just before surgery.

Your anesthesiologist will stay near your head, focused on your care. The surgeon may say some positive words as you fall asleep.

You will likely not remember anything in the operating room, which is normal for patients who have anesthesia. Your first memories after surgery will probably be in the recovery room.

Published April 2018                                                                           
Stanford Health Care © 2018