One study showed no consistent association between the day of week of the surgery and 30-day mortality or secondary adverse outcomes on Friday versus Monday. Conversely, another study found that patients were 44% more likely to die after having a surgery on a Friday than a Monday.
That dubious honour falls to Wednesday, when the joys of the preceding weekend have been forgotten and the delights of the next one still seem some way off. One reason for the good cheer may be that, according to research from Imperial College London, Mondays are the safest day on which to have an operation.
Day of the Week
First, doctors may be more available and less busy during the weekdays. Second, while many people might have work, it can ensure they won't miss their scheduled procedures due to important events or things popping up on weekends or holidays.
Do not take aspirin, coumadin, or any anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxyn, or celebrex. Also, do not take Vitamin E. If you take these or any other over the-counter medications regularly, call your doctor to see when and if you should stop taking them. This includes vitamin supplements.
Avoid Weekend Surgeries
According to a British Medical Journal study, patients who underwent surgery on Fridays were 44% more likely to have complications than those who underwent surgery on a Monday.
They found that patients whose operations were on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday ran a considerably lower chance of surviving the next five years than those whose operations were on a Monday or Tuesday.
Analysis of hospital episode statistics looking at the day of procedure and a 30-day mortality period for elective surgery has found that there was a higher risk of death for patients who have elective surgery later in the week and at the weekend, compared with those earlier in the week.
Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. You may brush your teeth and swish with a small amount of water to rinse.
Beta-carotene – Foods rich in beta-carotene can promote immune defenses by keeping skin and mucous healthy to hold back bacteria and viruses. Apricots, asparagus, beef liver, beets, broccoli, collard and mustard greens, yellow and winter squash, and watermelon are all good sources of beta-carotene.
The night before a procedure or surgery you should shower or take a bath using your normal soap. If your doctor told you to use disposable wipes or a special soap, follow the instructions for Getting Your Skin Ready For Procedure/Surgery found in your Surgery Folder.
Long format surgery may take 6-12 hours, is it safe to be “under” for this long? Sometimes it is recommended to undertake several plastic surgery procedures during one session. This is known as a long format surgery, which may take anywhere from 6-12 hours in duration.
The first shower should be taken two days before surgery and the second shower the day before surgery. The third shower will be the morning of surgery. With each shower, if you are going to wash your hair, wash as usual with your normal shampoo. Rinse your hair and body thoroughly afterward to remove the residue.
It is important that you get a good night's sleep before your surgery. If you find you are nervous or anxious the night before, you can take an over-the-counter sleep aid. If you are already on a nerve medication, e.g., diazepam, please contact your primary care doctor for instructions.
This is because all humans have germs on their skin that may cause an infection after surgery. Taking two showers (one at night and one in the morning) with CHG soap removes germs and reduces the risk of infection. Your doctor's office will give you the CHG soap and showering instructions.
Elective surgeries are rarely scheduled on weekend days, but researchers wanted to find out what happens when patients schedule surgeries on Thursdays or Fridays versus on the earlier days of the workweek.
Sleep on clean bedding and dress in clean clothes after bathing. Hair: Many hair products and hair pieces contain highly flammable products. Your safety is our first priority. That's why we require that you wash your hair the night before or the morning of surgery using only shampoo and conditioner.
You can't wear deodorant during surgery because it can leave a residue on your skin that's difficult to remove. This residue might make it challenging for the surgeon to cut through the incision site or accurately assess your skin circulation during surgery.
Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. The color of the skin and nail beds is an important sign of blood circulation.
Within 24 hours of any surgical procedure that involves anesthesia, you should avoid high-fiber foods of all types, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. During the two weeks leading up to surgery, you should avoid eating fish or taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements.
You should feel pretty good the morning following your surgery. Most women, though not “back to normal” report some fatigue but generally are not experiencing any significant pain or soreness. Your bleeding should be improved compared to the previous day.
You may be told not to eat or drink after the midnight before your surgery. Sometimes you can drink clear liquids up until 2 hours before your operation. If your doctor told you to take any medicine on the day of surgery, take it with a small sip of water.
“Yes, surgeons who operate on Friday are less experienced than those that operate on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,” said Dr. Luc Dubois, the study's lead author. “But they're also less experienced on Monday as well,” he said.