When preparing for surgery, of either your hip, foot or ankle, please consider and follow the instructions listed below. If you have any questions regarding these instructions, please contact Dr. Carreira’s office.

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before surgery.
• Important medications may be taken with a sip of water. Anesthesia personnel will contact you by phone prior to surgery to tell you which medications are best discontinued.
• Discontinue ALL anti-inflammatories at least 10 days prior to your surgery. (this includes aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, Aleve, naproxen, diclofenac, celebrex, mobic.)
• You may continue to take Tylenol.
• Discontinue ALL herbal medications at least 10 days prior to your surgery. (This includes St. John’s Wort, Gingko Biloba, ginseng, garlic, ephedra, kava, valerian, Echinacea)
• Make sure that all blood thinning medications have been stopped prior to your surgery and that appropriate precautions are taken while you have stopped taking these medications. Special arrangements must be made with your primary care physician or cardiologist well before surgery
• The night before surgery and with soap and water, perform a thorough cleansing of the affected area in which Dr. Carreira will be operating.
• If you begin to feel symptoms of a cold or flu before surgery, including runny nose, cough, or fever, please notify the office. It is possible that your surgery may be postponed.
• Please bring an accurate list of your current medications with you to the hospital. Please include the full name, doses, and schedules.
• If you are having outpatient surgery (going home on the same day), a responsible adult must be with you to take you home. It is not acceptable to go home in a taxi cab.
• Wear loose fitting clothes to the hospital. After surgery, you may have a bulky dressing that will not fit through tight clothing.
• Please call the hospital at 404-425-1232 the day before surgery after 2:00 PM to find out the scheduled time of your surgery.