Please follow these important instructions before you come to the hospital for surgery.
The evening before surgery
Eating and Drinking: Follow the guidelines the nurse talked to you about at your pre-surgery appointment.
Bathing: Bathe or take a shower. Use the antibacterial soap you got at your pre-surgery appointment. Wash from your neck down.
Brushing your teeth: After you brush your teeth, gargle with the Listerine you received. Use half the bottle and gargle for no more than 30 seconds.
The morning of surgery
Eating and Drinking: Follow the guidelines the nurse talked to you about at your pre-surgery appointment.
Bathing: Bathe or take a shower. Use the antibacterial soap you got at your presurgical appointment. Wash from your neck down. Do not use powder, cream, lotion or perfume. You can lightly apply deodorant.
Brushing your teeth: When you brush your teeth, do not swallow any water. After you brush your teeth, gargle with the remaining Listerine. Do not swallow the mouthwash. Do not gargle for more than 30 seconds.
Medicine: Follow the guidelines on the restricted medications list. Take only the medicine that you were told to take the morning of surgery. Swallow your pills with the least amount of water possible. Use just enough water to swallow them comfortably.
Hair: Wear your hair loosely (no clips, ties, etc.). Do not use hair spray. If you wear a wig or hairpiece, you will need to remove it before surgery. We will give you a head cover before you go into surgery.
Cosmetics/Nails: Do not wear makeup or nail polish. If you have nail tips/wraps/gels, you will need to remove them from at least one finger on each hand (the index or middle finger is best). This lets us keep track of your oxygen level during surgery.
What to wear: Dress in comfortable, easy-to-fold clothing. The clothing you wear to the hospital will be returned to the person who comes with you.
What to bring to the hospital
- Your surgery binder.
- A one-day supply of your prescription medications*. Do not take these or any other type of medicine or supplement without first talking to your healthcare provider.
- Your diabetes medicine or insulin*, if you have diabetes. If your arrival time is after 9 a.m. and you start to feel sick, please tell the nurse.
- Your inhalers*, if you have asthma. Ask your healthcare provider for specific guidelines about using your asthma medication.
- A book, cards or puzzles to pass time while you wait to go to surgery.
- Guided imagery files and player. Please see the handout in your surgery binder for more information.
- Hearing aid, if needed. We will give your hearing aid to a family member before surgery.
- Glasses and contact lenses: Wear glasses, if possible, and bring a glasses case. If you need to wear contact lenses, please bring a case and solution.
- Dentures: You will need to remove all nonpermanent dental work before your surgery. Please bring a denture cup with you.
- Personal items: We want your hospital stay to be as comfortable as possible. Closet space is limited. You can pack a bag with your robe, slippers and anything else you need during your stay. You will not need this bag until you move from the ICU to the step-down unit. Please leave the bag with your family until you need it.
What NOT to bring
- Jewelry, including watches, wedding rings and any body jewelry.
- Large amounts of cash, credit cards and all other valuables.
- We strongly suggest that you do not bring young children with you. They often are not able to stay comfortable while waiting throughout the day.
*Please bring a one-day supply of medications with you. This is in case your surgery is delayed or scheduled for the next day. If you end up not needing the extra medications, please send them home with a family member. You will get all the medications you need while you are in the hospital.
What if I use medical marijuana?
If you use medical marijuana, please do not bring it with you to the hospital. Cleveland Clinic does not allow medical marijuana in any US location, and Cleveland Clinic caregivers are not allowed to handle medical marijuana. If you bring medical marijuana with you, Cleveland Clinic police will confiscate and destroy it unless there is another person with you who is registered to legally possess medical marijuana and has their registration card with them.
Phone numbers
Please do not call the Cleveland Clinic Operator or Admitting Office for information about your surgery. We will contact you if there are any changes to your surgery schedule.
Questions about preparing for surgery?
Call the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Outpatient Center
216.444.0274 or 800.223.2273, ext. 40274, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays
Questions about your surgery date?
Call the Thoracic Surgery Scheduling Office
216.445.4585 or 800.223.2273, ext. 54585
If medical problems arise, please call your surgeon's office:
Usman Ahmad, MD 216.444.1921
Alejandro Bribriesco, MD 216.445.8140
Sudish Murthy, MD, PhD 216.444.5640
Siva Raja, MD, PhD 216.444.4063
Daniel P. Raymond, MD 216.636.1623
Have an urgent matter?
Call 911 or the Cleveland Clinic Emergency Department, any time, day or night 216.444.6749 or 800.223.2273 ext. 46749.
Cleveland Clinic is not responsible for lost or stolen items. This includes, but is not limited to, clothing, jewelry, money, credit/debit cards, glasses, contact lenses, cell phones, wireless electronic devices and laptop computers.
