The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center provides a complete set of instructions prior to surgery that must be observed for the health and safety of the patient and to avoid any complications in a smooth process for the procedure.

It is critical to follow these guidelines, which are provided below.  Failure to follow the instructions may cause cancellation of your surgery.

What to Bring:

• All health insurance cards/information
• Container for your contact lenses or glasses
• A responsible adult to drive you home following the surgery

The Night Before Surgery:

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery.
• Do not drink alcohol or take any medications except those prescribed by the anesthesiologist from the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center.
• Notify your physician by 10:00 p.m. if there is any change in your physical condition, such as temperature, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or extreme pain.  If these problems occur, call the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center when it opens at 6:30 the next morning to notify the surgical team about your condition.  The number is 404-778-4036. 

The Morning of Surgery:

• Do not eat or drink anything unless instructed by your anesthesiologist.  This includes no water, gum or mints.
• Do not wear any makeup.
• Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
• Wear casual clothing such as a jogging suit or loose fitting clothing.  Do not wear panty hose, high heels or many layers of clothing. 

The Day of the Surgery:

When you arrive at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, the nurse will check for vital signs and question you about your health.  The nurse will then report to the attending Anesthesiologist, who will visit you again to discuss the plan of anesthesia and to answer any questions you may have. The anesthesiologist will also give you instructions about how to manage your own post-operative care.

The patient will then be asked to sign a consent form for anesthesia.  There are basically three types of anesthesia.  The first is General anesthesia in which the patient is given medication to render unconsciousness during surgery.  Monitored Anesthesia Care, (MAC), also known as twilight sleep, is medication that prevents pain and relaxes the patient but may not cause unconsciousness.  It is administered by the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure.  Regional anesthesia totally blocks pain from the region of the body where the procedure will be performed.

Note:  A parent or legal guardian must accompany all minors to appointments or procedures at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Center.