About Your Surgery
Thank you for choosing UTHealth Houston Neurosciences for your neurosurgical care. Please read the information below to help you prepare for your surgery and the necessary follow-up care.
Preparing for Your Surgery
You’ll need to follow several important steps prior to your surgery, and they are described in the sections below. On page 3 of this document, we’ve provided a Surgery Timeline to help you keep track of your appointments and progress.
Medical Clearance
You may need to receive medical clearance from your primary care physician or cardiologist one month prior to your surgery date. Please ensure your medical clearance is faxed to our office at 713-486-8088.
Pre-Operative Anesthesia Appointment
As you prepare for surgery, an appointment with the Anesthesia Clinic will be scheduled to review your medical history. This appointment will take place one to two weeks prior to your surgery date and typically lasts one to two hours.
Please consult with your primary care physician before this appointment to ensure blood work (or lab work) is completed and available for review by the anesthesiologist.
During this visit tests required for surgery—such as x-rays or electrocardiograms (EKGs)—will be performed and blood work will be completed. An anesthesiologist will review your medical information and answer any questions you may have. It is very important that you notify your anesthesiologist of any heart surgeries or diagnostic tests performed on your heart or lungs within the last two years. You will be asked to give consent for surgery and for the use of blood or blood products in cases where it is deemed necessary.
Please bring the results of any recent blood work to your appointment, or have them faxed to 713-704-6995. In addition, bring a complete list of all current medications, including vitamins and supplements, and any known medication allergies or other important health information.
Copies of a living will and/or healthcare durable power of attorney should also be brought with you. Federal law requires us to inquire about these documents.
Should you have questions for the anesthesia clinic, please call 713-704-3724. For example, you may want to inform the representative that you will need a translator or interpreter.
Financial Information
Once your surgical procedure has been scheduled, we will notify your insurance carrier to verify surgical benefits and deductible and coinsurance amounts. Precertification will be done if required. A financial counselor from our office will conduct a surgical cost analysis and contact you prior to your procedure.
Surgery Information
Before Your Surgery – Medications, Food, Drink, and Antimicrobial Cleanser
- Please review your current list of medications with your surgeon and also at your pre-operative anesthesia appointment.
- At your pre-operative anesthesia appointment, you will be given specific instructions on whether you should temporarily stop taking any of your medications before surgery. Please inform your surgeon and anesthesiologist if you are currently taking any anticoagulation medications (sometimes called blood thinners), such as warfarin (Coumadin) and Plavix® (clopidogrel); Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid); chemotherapy medications or immunosuppressant medications; heart medications; blood pressure medications; or diabetes medications. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will give you instructions on whether to take these medications before surgery.
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the day before surgery. This includes NO coffee or tea the morning of surgery.
- At your pre-operative anesthesia appointment, you will be given antimicrobial skin cleanser (i.e., Chlorhexidine) to shower with and instructions on how and when to use it.
What to Expect at the Hospital
On the day of your surgery, please check in at Day Surgery Admissions, which is on the second floor of the Sarofim Pavilion at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. You will then be escorted to Day Surgery.
Once you’re in your pre-op room in Day Surgery, you will meet the nurses, resident staff, and anesthesia team (which may not be the same people you saw in the Anesthesia Clinic). Together with your neurosurgeon, they will review your current symptoms, discuss expectations from your surgery, and answer any questions you may have.
When it is time for your surgery, you will be moved directly to the Operating Room. Your family will go to the Day Surgery Waiting Room.
What to Expect After Your Surgery
Once your surgery is finished, you will be moved to the Recovery Room. The neurosurgeon and/or resident physician will come to the waiting room to discuss how your surgery went with your family. You will be in the Recovery Room until you have fully recovered from the anesthesia (usually 45 minutes to an hour). Visitors are not allowed in this area. If you are scheduled to stay overnight, you will be transferred to a room in the Jones Pavilion. The waiting area staff will let your family know your room number and how to get there. If you are scheduled to go home the same day, you will be moved from the recovery area to the “Phase II” recovery area for approximately an hour, at which time your family can see you and you will be discharged.
Post-Operative Appointment
Your neurosurgeon will want to see you one to two weeks after surgery. During this visit we will check your recovery, remove all sutures, and plan future treatments or follow-up appointments. Our office will contact you to set up your post-operative appointments, or you can call 713-486-8000 to schedule directly, if you prefer.
Hospital Care Team
In the hospital, you may see many members of our extended team, including resident physicians (neurosurgeons in training), the intensive care unit team, hospitalists (physicians who work in the hospital setting only), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical students, nurses, care coordinators, physician liaisons, and therapists. The large teams and numbers of people involved can be confusing. However, keep in mind that your neurosurgeon will oversee and coordinate all care, and can answer any questions you may have.
Contacting Us
If you are having any problems at home, please call our clinic at 713-486-8000. If the physician’s staff is not available, there is an answering service for your convenience. If you need emergency care, please go to the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Before you go to the Emergency Center, notify the on-call physician by calling 713-486-8000. Doing so will expedite your visit and alert our team to do an evaluation.
UTHealth Houston Neurosciences – Texas Medical Center Clinic Phone Number: (713) 486-8000
In the weeks prior to your surgery, please notify our office:
- If you develop a fever, cold, tooth infection, or stomach virus or are sick with any illness; you should also obtain medical treatment from your primary care physician for any of these issues.
- If your temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- If you think you are pregnant.
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding your surgery
2+ Weeks Before Surgery
□ Schedule/Complete Medical Clearance Appointment with your primary care physician.
– Have results faxed to 713-486-8088.
□ Schedule/Complete Pre-Operative Imaging, if requested by your neurosurgeon.
□ Schedule/Complete Pre-Operative Anesthesia Appointment.
1 Week Before Surgery
□ Stop using blood thinners and ace inhibitors, including aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), Plavix® (clopidogrel), Eliquis®, Pradaxa®, Savaysa®, Xarelto®, warfarin (Coumadin®), or lisinopril (Prinivil®).
□ Stop using these over-the counter medications: BC Powder®, Goody’s Powder®, Excedrin®, Alka-Seltzer®, fish oil, Vitamin E, and ginkgo biloba.
□ Stop using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): ibuprofen, Advil®, Aleve ®, Celebrex®, or any anti-inflammatory prescriptions. Tylenol® is permitted.
□ Schedule/attend your pre-operative anesthesia appointment, if requested by your neurosurgeon.
1-2 Days Before Surgery
□ You will receive a call from Memorial Hermann Pre-Admission Testing within 24 to 48 hours prior to your surgery. They will confirm your arrival time and provide any further instructions.
Night Before Surgery
□ Do not eat or drink anything past midnight unless otherwise instructed by the anesthesiologist.
□ Shower with the antimicrobial soap that you received during your pre-operative anesthesia appointment (as instructed).
Day of Surgery—Before you leave home
□ You may brush your teeth, rinse, and spit on the morning of your surgery, but do not swallow any water.
□ If you are having back surgery, wear comfortable clothing that is loose at the waist.
□ If you are having neck surgery, wear a button-down shirt.
□ Do not wear jewelry or bring valuables to the hospital.
□ Shower again with the antimicrobial soap that you received during your pre-operative anesthesia appointment (as instructed).
Day of Surgery – At the hospital
□ Check into Day Surgery Admissions, located on the second floor of the Sarofim Pavilion at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, at the time given to you by Memorial Hermann Pre-Admission Testing.
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Your family may wait in the Day Surgery Waiting Room.
□ After surgery, you will be moved to a Recovery Room.
□ Once you are awake, you will either be moved to:
– the “Phase II” recovery area, where your family can see you and you will be discharged.
– your hospital room, if you are staying overnight.
1-2 Weeks After Surgery
□ Schedule/Complete Post-Operative Appointment with your neurosurgeon.
Your Surgery Timeline
Your Appointments
Medical Clearance Appointment
Date: ________________________ Time: ______________
Schedule this with your primary care physician or your cardiologist.
Imaging Appointment
Date: _________________________________ Time: ______________
Your surgeon may request a current MRI or CT scan before your surgery. If so, you will need to schedule a pre-operative imaging appointment. Imaging can be done at:
6400 Fannin, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77030
Pre-Operative Anesthesia Clinic Appointment
Date: _____________ Time: ______________
The Anesthesia Clinic is in the UT Professional Building in the Texas Medical Center:
6410 Fannin, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713-704-3724
Pre-Operative Appointment
Date: ____________________________ Time: ______________
Your surgeon may choose to meet with you a few days prior to your procedure. This appointment will be scheduled for you, and take place in the UTHealth Houston Neurosciences clinic:
6400 Fannin, Suite 2800
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713-486-8000
Surgery
Date:____________________________________________ Arrival Time: ________
Day Surgery Admissions is on the second floor of the Sarofim Pavilion in the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center:
6411 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713-704-4375
Post-Operative Appointment
Date: ___________________________ Time: ______________
Your UTHealth Houston Neurosciences care team will contact you to schedule your post-operative appointment. This appointment will take place in the UTHealth Houston Neurosciences clinic:
UTHealth Houston Neurosciences
6400 Fannin, Suite 2800
Houston, Texas, 77030
Phone: 713-486-8000
Fax: 713-486-8088