Patient guide/Chapter
Preparing for Surgery
What to do before planned general surgery
Preparing well can make anesthesia safer and recovery smoother. This is a general list. Follow the written plan for your operation.
Ask about anything that is unclear. Understanding the plan is part of safe care.
- Key note inside
Bring your medication list
Note: Do not stop or change blood thinners on your own.List all medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Blood thinners, diabetes drugs, and blood-pressure or heart medicines need special attention — stopping or continuing them is a physician decision.
- Blood thinners (including aspirin-containing pain medicines)
- Diabetes medicines / insulin
- Blood-pressure and heart medicines
- Herbal products and supplements
Fasting and fluids
You usually stop solid food after midnight before surgery. Rules for clear liquids depend on the anesthesia plan. Bowel operations may require additional bowel preparation.
Tests and records
You may need blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray, or an anesthesia visit. Bring prior operative reports, pathology, and imaging discs or reports.
What to pack
ID, medication list, comfortable clothes, phone charger, and glasses if needed. Leave valuables and excess cash at home. Confirm visitor rules with the hospital.
Smoking, alcohol, nutrition
Stopping smoking early reduces wound and lung complications. Avoid alcohol before surgery. Balanced protein intake supports healing.
Consent and questions
You will hear the purpose, alternatives, expected benefits, and risks; written consent is obtained. Note questions about pain, recovery time, stoma possibility, or voice changes in advance.
This page is for education. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with your physician. Medical editor: Assoc. Prof. Cengiz Dibekoğlu, MD · Last medically reviewed: August 2026.