1. Shower the evening before surgery and the morning of surgery using an anti-bacterial soap such as Dial. Men should shave their facial hair either in the evening or in the morning before surgery.
2. Brush teeth the evening before surgery and the morning of surgery using an anti-bacterial mouth rinse such is Listerine.
3. Take all medications as usual the evening before surgery. Take all routine morning medications the morning of surgery with a sip of water. Take aspirin if this is a regular medication for you. Do not take Plavix or Coumadin unless instructed to do so by your surgeon. If you are a diabetic, the anesthesiologist you meet with during your pre-admission testing may make changes in the way you are to take your diabetic medications before surgery. Follow the instructions he gives you.
4. These instructions are very important to decrease your risk of infection at the time of your open heart surgery. Follow these and other instructions as given to you by the pre-admission testing nurse. If there is any conflict in instructions or anything is unclear for you, call our office and we will clarify.