Before surgery

It’s important that you attend your pre-operative assessment appointment so we can check your suitability for surgery. Our aim is to make sure the operation is safe for you.

We’ll carry out tests to make sure that your heart, lungs and kidneys are working properly. You might have a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests.

If you do not attend this appointment, we might have to cancel your surgery.

Try to stop smoking

Smoking increases the risk of chest infections and blood clots after surgery. It can also make your wounds heal more slowly because it reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the tissues in your body.

If you would like to give up smoking, talk to your nurse or contact our stop smoking service.

Medicines

You might need to temporarily stop or adjust any medicines you’re taking around the time of your surgery.

Remember to bring your medicines to your pre-operative assessment appointment so we can advise you on how to take them.

This includes:

• antiplatelet medicines that help prevent blood clots, like aspirin or clopidogrel
• anticoagulant medicines that help prevent blood clots, like warfarin or rivaroxaban
• diabetes medicines
• any medicines you buy from a pharmacy or shop
• herbal or homeopathic medicines