Prepare For Your Surgery
Where to go?
Currently our surgeons are performing surgeries out of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and Olds Hospital and Care Centre. Please make sure you are clear about where your surgery is going to be performed.
Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre
Patients should enter the hospital through the front entrance. They will then proceed to admitting to register. From there they will be directed to the ward or day surgery to further prepare and wait for their surgery.
Olds Hospital and Care Centre
Patients should enter the hospital through the front entrance. They will then proceed to admitting to register. From there they will be directed to the ward or day surgery to further prepare and wait for their surgery.
Fasting Before Surgery
Regardless of surgery type or site, we want the stomach to be empty before having anesthesia, because anesthesia can reduce your body’s ability to protect and prevent food or acids from the stomach from entering the lungs. Normally, your body is able to prevent this, but anesthesia medicines make it harder for your body to do so. When food or liquids from the stomach get into the lungs, it is called “aspiration.” This can be very dangerous if it does happen.
Solid foods and liquids leave the stomach at different rates too. Solid food takes longer to empty from the stomach than liquids, so the time to stop eating solids (eight hours) is longer than that for clear liquids (two hours).
If patients have not followed the fasting guidelines, surgery will be postponed or rescheduled due to the increased risk associated with not having an empty stomach. The exception would be emergency surgery that cannot be delayed in which case special precautions are taken to help prevent anything from getting into the lungs.
Please follow any fasting or diet instructions provided by your physician or pre-admission clinic. In the event of conflicting advice, their advice is to be followed before the information posted on this website.
When to Arrive?
You are asked to arrive prior to your scheduled surgical time. Surgeries are often unpredictable and may go longer or shorter than anticipated. This may affect the actual start time of your surgery. It is important that you are here and ready for when the operating room calls for you.
What to bring?
You will need to bring your Alberta Health Care card and picture identification.
You will need to bring any purchased orthopedic devices recommended or required following your surgery such as a crutches, shoulder slings or knee braces.
You will need a driver to bring to and from the hospital. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home following surgery.
If you are scheduled for an overnight stay in hospital you should bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, and change of clothes. After surgery you will typically have more difficulty dressing and should choose a change of clothing that is practical. A button up shirt will often be easier than a pullover for someone who has had upper extremity surgery. Baggy pants or shorts and slip on shoes are advisable.
What Not to Bring?
We strongly advise that you leave any jewelry or valuables at home. If you do bring your wallet, do not bring excessive amounts of money. Although we believe your personal items will be safe during your surgery, we cannot guarantee them nor are we able to verify what you have in your possession prior to surgery.
Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients
Detailed information to prepare for surgery is found in the hip and knee replacement education booklets. Your may follow the link below to review that information.
403.309.2001
403.341.6990