Preparing for Surgery

The more we know about your general health and medical history, the better we can provide the appropriate care for your specific health needs. To get you started, we ask that you take a few minutes to fill out our preoperative patient questionnaire. Please bring the completed questionnaire to your pre-admission testing appointment.

Once you complete the questionnaire, feel free to review the following topics to learn more about how to prepare and what to expect before, during, and after your surgery.

In the weeks before your surgery

Before your surgery, we will need to know everything there is to know about your health and medical history. Understanding your preoperative health ensures that you will receive the appropriate care before, during, and after your surgery.

A few weeks before your surgery, your doctor may ask you to make an appointment with the Mount Sinai Pre-Admission Testing Center at 212-241-3188. At the Pre-Admission Testing Center, you will meet with anesthesiologists, nurses, and patient care associates who will interview you and conduct a number of tests that usually include:

• Blood work
• Electrocardiogram
• Chest x-ray or other diagnostic imaging

During this appointment, feel free to ask questions or voice any concerns you may have regarding the testing or the upcoming surgery. You may also want to ask about health care proxies.

For pre-admission testing, please bring the following:

• Your completed preoperative patient questionnaire
• A list of all the medications you are taking, including dietary supplements and herbal remedies
• Results of heart, lung, or other medical tests, if you have them, as well as the names and contact information of the doctors you see on a regular basis

Please be prepared to name any allergies you may have to medications, foods, and substances such as latex or iodinated x-ray contrast.

The Pre-Admission Testing Center is located on the second floor of the hospital's Guggenheim Pavilion. The Center is open for appointments Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Directions and parking information are available on our visitors' page.

The day before your surgery

In the days leading up to your surgery, we will send you detailed instructions about your diet, lifestyle habits, and medication. On the day before the procedure, be sure to follow the instructions regarding:

• No smoking, alcohol, or recreational drugs
• When to refrain from eating solid foods
• Managing your prescription medication(s), especially drugs that prevent blood clotting (blood thinners), such as Coumadin, Plavix, aspirin, NSAIDs, and some herbal supplements

Rescheduling your surgery

If you develop a cold, virus, sore throat, or other illness during the week before your surgery, contact your surgeon immediately to discuss whether you should proceed with or postpone your surgery. If you need to cancel your surgery, please notify your surgeon as soon as possible. If you cannot reach your doctor, call Surgical Admissions Planning at (212) 241-2273, Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 6 pm.

Questions

We encourage you to contact us at one of the numbers below to ask questions or discuss your concerns about these or any topics related to your surgery.

• Switchboard
  (212) 241-6500
  
  
• Pre-Admission Testing Center
  (212) 241-3188
  
  
• Surgical Admissions Planning
  (212) 241-2273
  
  
• Financial Screening
  (212) 731-3600
  
  
• Surgical Patient Registration and Family Waiting Area
  (212) 241-7778
  
  
• Inpatient Admissions
  (212) 241-1900
  
  
• Anesthesia Financial/Billing Questions
  (412) 937-5760 or toll-free (800) 627-4470