Before surgery, and after it

01

Tests before surgery

Before an operation, the team checks that your body is ready for anaesthesia and surgery.

• Blood tests, and sometimes a heart tracing (ECG), a chest X-ray or other scans, as your doctor advises.
• A check by the anaesthetist, the doctor who gives anaesthesia, who may ask about past illnesses, allergies and earlier operations.
• Some people need extra tests for the heart, lungs, kidneys or diabetes. This is not a sign that something is wrong; it is part of careful planning.

02

Your medicines

Do not stop or change any medicine on your own. Show the doctor the full list, including tablets, injections, creams and herbal or home remedies.

• Blood thinners (medicines that prevent clots, such as aspirin or warfarin): some must be stopped some days before surgery, others must not. Follow only what your doctor advises.
• Diabetes medicines and insulin: the dose may need to change, especially on the day you are not eating. Ask for clear written instructions.
• Blood pressure and heart medicines: many are continued, but some may be changed. Ask which ones to take on the morning of surgery.
• Tell the doctor about any allergies, and about any pain-killers, supplements or herbal products you take.

03

Fasting

Fasting means not eating or drinking for some hours before anaesthesia, so that the stomach is empty and the anaesthesia is safer.

• Follow the exact instructions you are given about when to stop food and when to stop water.
• If you are unsure, call the clinic before the day of surgery rather than guessing.

04

Tobacco, gutka and alcohol

Smoking, bidi, gutka, khaini, pan masala with tobacco and alcohol can make anaesthesia and healing more difficult.

• Please stop all of them as soon as you can, and tell the doctor if you find it hard. Help is available, and you can ask for it.
• If you have used tobacco or alcohol for a long time, tell the team honestly so that they can plan your care safely.
• Family members can help by not keeping tobacco or alcohol in the house.

05

Food and walking

A body that is well fed and active usually copes better with surgery. Keep to what your doctor and dietitian advise.

• Eat simple, home-cooked food in small, regular meals. Include protein such as dal, eggs, milk, curd or paneer, unless you have been told otherwise.
• Drink enough fluids unless you have been asked to limit them.
• Walk a little every day, as far as you comfortably can, unless you have been told to rest.
• If you have lost weight or have little appetite, tell the doctor. Nutrition support may be advised.

06

What to bring to hospital

• All your reports, scans, films and earlier hospital papers, in one folder
• Your list of medicines, and the medicines themselves in their original strips or bottles
• Identity papers and any scheme or insurance papers
• Loose, comfortable clothes, slippers, towel, soap, toothbrush and other personal items
• Spectacles, hearing aids or dentures, if you use them, with a case
• A phone, a charger and a notebook for questions
• Phone numbers of family members and of the clinic

07

After surgery: pain and comfort

Some pain after an operation is expected, and it can be treated. You do not need to bear it silently.

• Tell the nurse or doctor when you have pain. Telling the team early lets them treat pain sooner.
• Pain medicine is given in different ways, and the team will choose what suits you.
• Feeling tired, low in mood or sleeping poorly in the first days is common. Mention it if it troubles you.

08

After surgery: wound care

• Keep the wound clean and dry, and follow the dressing and bathing instructions you are given.
• Do not apply powders, oils, ash or home remedies on the wound.
• Do not lift heavy weights or strain until your doctor says it is safe.
• Look at the wound each day, and note redness, swelling, discharge or a bad smell, so that you can report it.

09

After surgery: eating and drinking

• Restart food and drink only when the team tells you. After some operations this is slow and step by step.
• Eat small amounts often. Chew well and sit upright to eat.
• Your doctor or dietitian may suggest a particular diet for some weeks. Please follow it, and ask before adding new foods.

10

After surgery: moving and breathing

Moving early and breathing deeply help the lungs and legs stay healthy during recovery.

• Sit up, stand and walk when the team says you may, with help at first.
• Do the deep-breathing and coughing exercises you are shown. Support the wound gently with a pillow or folded towel when you cough.
• Move your feet and ankles while in bed, as advised.

11

Drains and stomas

Some people go home with a drain or a stoma. The team will teach you and your family how to care for them.

12

The final report and follow-up

• The removed tissue is examined in the laboratory. This is called histopathology, and the report takes some days.
• The doctor reads this report with you and explains whether any further treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is advised.
• Follow-up visits and tests help the team watch your recovery. Please keep these appointments even if you feel well.
• Bring your reports and a list of your questions to each visit.

13

When to get help

Know these signs in advance, and keep the clinic number where the family can find it. If you are in doubt, it is better to ask.