Before Your Surgery at Duke University Hospital

As a Duke University Hospital surgery patient, you will receive excellent health care from a highly qualified team of professionals. We strive to protect your dignity during surgery and during your stay at Duke. Because you may be anxious about your forthcoming surgery, we have presented information that you will need to assist you through the surgical process.

• Instructions Before Surgery
• Pediatric Instructions on Eating and Drinking Before Surgery
• Things to Remember the Morning of Surgery
• What to Expect Upon Arrival
• Anesthesia and Surgery
• After Surgery
• To Reach the Third Floor Duke University Hospital Surgical Services
• Patient/Visitor Information

Instructions Before Surgery

The day before your surgery, you will be called by a registered nurse to confirm the time you should arrive at Duke University Hospital. If you will not be at home the day before your surgery, please call 919-684-4718 or 800-382-6238 between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for arrival time.

The day before your surgery, do not eat or drink after midnight. Be sure to follow any instructions given to you by your surgeon or health team professional about your medications.

Call your surgeon's office or the Duke Univerity Hospital Preoperative area at 919-684-4718 or 800-382-6238 if your health changes in any way -- for example, if you develop a cold, cough, fever, or chills.

If your surgeon lets you go home the day of surgery, it is required that a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after surgery.

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Pediatric Instructions on Eating and Drinking Before Surgery

If your baby is less than six months old, please feed him or her as you usually would until four hours before the time you have been asked to arrive at the hospital. The baby may continue to have water, breast milk, or clear apple juice two hours before the arrival time.

If your child is older than six months of age, he or she may have no food, dairy products, or juices with pulp after midnight, but may have clear apple juice or water until three hours before the arrival time.

A responsible adult (parent, guardian, or a person who is able to make decisions regarding the patient) must accompany children under the age of 18.

The responsible adult is expected to remain at the hospital until the surgeon has spoken to him or her at the end of the surgery.

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Things to Remember the Morning of Surgery

• You may prefer to take a bath or shower the morning of surgery.
• Brush your teeth, but do not swallow the water.
• Please do not wear any makeup, lipstick, fingernail, or toenail polish.
• If you have long hair, braid it or tie it back with a rubber band.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
• You do not need to bring pajamas -- patient gowns are provided.
• When appropriate, bring crutches or a walker.
• Please leave all valuables (money and jewelry) at home.
• To prevent loss of your glasses, contacts and dental appliances, please give them to a designated family member.

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What to Expect Upon Arrival

• You will need to sign in at the third floor Duke University Hospital Registration/Information Desk.
• Due to limited seating, only two visitors per patient are allowed in the surgical waiting room at a time.
• Coffee and juices are available to family members in the surgical waiting room.
• Courtesy pagers are available for family members who would like to leave the surgical waiting room for short periods of time.
• When it is surgical time, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown.
• Remove glasses, contact lenses, and dentures before surgery.
• The preoperative area cannot be responsible for any valuables.

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Anesthesia and Surgery

If your operation requires services of an anesthesiologist, you will meet members of the anesthesia team in the preoperative holding area the day of surgery.

If your child is having surgery and is older than six months, you may be allowed to go with your child to the operating room while he or she goes to sleep. This will be up to your anesthesiologist.

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After Surgery

After surgery, most patients are admitted to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The PACU is a critical care unit providing care and treatment to patients recovering from the effects of anesthesia.

Patient visitation must be limited to safely provide patient care and confidentiality. Visitation in PACU is permitted only for parents of children under age 16.

To facilitate communication, PACU staff will inform waiting room staff of a patient's progress, room assignment, and other important updates. We would appreciate it if family members maintain communication with the waiting room staff. After your surgery, you will either be discharged or admitted to the hospital.

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To Reach the Third Floor Duke University Hospital Surgical Services

• Valet parking (Duke University Hospital - Main Entrance) is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Valet parking (Duke Clinic - Main Entrance) is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Park in Parking Deck #2 (located off Erwin Road) directly across from Duke University Hospital. Patient may be dropped off at the main entrance of the hospital.
• If a wheelchair is needed, use the telephones located in the Duke University Hospital main entrance and call Escort Services at 919-681-2400. Written instructions are posted by the telephones.
• Enter Duke University Hospital though the main entrance.
• Walk through the main lobby to the elevators.
• Take an elevator to the third floor.
• When you exit the third floor elevator, please check in at the Registration/Information desk.

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Patient/Visitor Information

• If you have completed and notarized forms (advance directives, power of attorney, or a living will) please bring them with you the day of your surgery.
• If you have questions or need for assistance in obtaining these documents, please ask the Preoperative Screening Unit nurse during your preoperative screening visit or call Patient/Visitor Relations Office at 919-681-2020, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• For living will information during evenings and weekends, please call 919-684-8111 and ask the Duke operator to page the nursing supervisor on call.