We recommend that you make every effort to stop smoking well before your surgery, and remain smoke-free for at least 1 week after your procedure. Smoking increases your risk for complications from your surgery, such as wound infection, pneumonia and heart attack. The sooner you stop smoking, the better your chances of a smooth recovery.

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. You have access to many resources to help you quit at no cost. Talk to your physician about your options or visit the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at Quityes.org.

Unless otherwise instructed, please follow these guidelines for what to eat or drink before surgery. If you do not follow the instructions you are given, we may have to delay or cancel your surgery.

Patients age 11 and older:

• Stop eating anything 8 hours before you come to the hospital. This includes:
  • Solid food
  • Gum
  • Mints
  • Tobacco
  • Cough drops
• Stop drinking anything 8 hours before you come to the hospital except for what’s listed below. You may have only these clear liquids up to 2 hours before you come to the hospital:
  • Water
  • Sports drinks (Gatorade®, Powerade®)
  • Sodas (ginger ale, lemon-lime)
  • Clear broth (chicken, vegetable or beef)
  • Clear fruit drinks without pulp or fruit pieces
  • Hot or cold coffee or tea without milk or creamers of any type
  • Fruit juices without pulp (filtered apple juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, lemonade)
• Stop drinking all liquids 2 hours before you come to the hospital.

Patients age 1 to 10 years:

• The child should stop eating all food not in this list 8 hours before they come to the hospital. They can eat a light meal of the following up to 6 hours before they come to the hospital:
  • Crackers
  • Toast
  • Cereal
  • Milk
  • Formula
• The child should stop drinking anything 8 hours before they come to the hospital except for what’s listed below.
• They may have only these clear liquids up to 2 hours before they come to the hospital:
• Water
• Pedialyte® or infant electrolyte drink
• Clear broth (chicken, vegetable or beef)
• Clear fruit drinks without pulp or fruit pieces
• Fruit juices without pulp (filtered apple juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, lemonade)
• The child should stop drinking all liquids 2 hours before they come to the hospital.

Patients younger than 1 year:

• The child should stop eating all food not in this list 8 hours before they come to the hospital. They can eat a light meal of the following up to 6 hours before they come to the hospital:
  • Crackers
  • Toast
  • Cereal
  • Milk
  • Formula
• The child can have breast milk up to 4 hours before they come to the hospital.
• They may have only these clear liquids up to 2 hours before they come to the hospital:
• Water
• Pedialyte® or infant electrolyte drink
• Clear broth (chicken, vegetable or beef)
• Clear fruit drinks without pulp or fruit pieces
• Fruit juices without pulp (filtered apple juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, lemonade)
• The child should stop drinking all liquids 2 hours before they come to the hospital.

• Photo ID
• Medical insurance card
• Method of payment for medications prescribed at discharge
• Advance directives, such as a living will and health care power of attorney (if applicable)
• Current list of all medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements
• List of allergies
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose and mask, if you use one
• Any assistive devices or equipment you may need after surgery

Do not bring any valuables, including:

• Jewelry
• Credit cards
• Money

You may not wear any jewelry during surgery. This includes body-piercing jewelry and tongue studs.

If you will have anesthesia, you will need a responsible adult age 18 or older to accompany you home .*

• It is not safe for you to leave the hospital by yourself or to drive yourself home, even though you might feel awake.
• Please have a ride arranged and available when you are ready to leave.
• You cannot leave alone.

Rideshare may be used, but a responsible adult age 18 or older who is not the driver must be in the vehicle with you.

*If you have only local anesthesia, you may be able to leave the hospital on your own. Please check with your physician first.

Plan to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will fit over bandages, surgical dressing and splints.

Your medications may affect your surgery and anesthesia. Most medications should be taken on your usual schedule up until the day before your surgery. Be sure to follow the instructions you got from the Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Pre-operative Clinic about which medications to take.

Some medications require special consideration, especially on the day of your surgery or procedure.

• The physician who prescribes your medications should talk directly with your surgeon or the physician who will perform your procedure.
• You may also schedule an appointment with our Pre-operative Clinic team, who will review your medical history and provide medication instructions.

Please bring a list of all of your medications with you when you come to the hospital.

Herbal medications can interfere with anesthesia. Also, some herbal medications increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. We recommend you stop taking all herbal medications at least 7 days before your surgery or procedure.