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Preparation for Surgery – Recovery After Surgery
Preparation for Surgery
For every patient, realizing that surgery is necessary can be challenging. The most important factor is choosing the surgeon, their team, and the hospital where the procedure will take place. Equally important, however, is the patient’s preparation—both physically and mentally—which has a major impact on the success of the surgery and on post-operative recovery.
There are many steps a patient can take, depending on the time available before surgery, to improve the final outcome.
Physical Fitness
It is beneficial for patients to be as healthy as possible to cope with the stress of surgery. Sometimes, patients need to take specific actions to improve their physical condition, such as losing weight, exercising, and quitting smoking.
During the preoperative assessment, a team of doctors evaluates the patient’s physical condition using blood tests, cardiological assessments, and any other necessary examinations. This team includes the anesthesiologist who will participate in the surgery.
Nutrition
A healthy and balanced diet strengthens the immune system, which supports wound healing and helps prevent infections. Diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, and protein from dairy or meat. It is advisable to avoid fats, processed foods, and sugar. Multivitamins may help, although it is preferable to obtain nutrients through a balanced diet, as some supplements can cause side effects during surgery.
Weight Loss
Overweight patients should ideally attempt to lose weight before surgery through proper diet and exercise. Extra weight puts additional strain on the spine, which can slow post-operative healing. If significant weight loss is needed, it is best done under the guidance of a specialist to avoid additional health problems.
Exercise
Exercise helps preoperatively by strengthening muscles, improving cardiovascular fitness, and boosting the immune system. Generally, the fitter a patient is, the faster they recover and return to an active, healthy life. Depending on the patient’s general condition and level of pain, exercise may include walking, swimming, water aerobics, or light weightlifting. A physical therapist or certified trainer can help design a strengthening program.
Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is the single most important change a patient can make before surgery. Smoking increases post-operative complications, undermines the immune system, affects anesthesia, and causes lung problems. Many spine surgeons refuse to perform spinal fusion on smokers because research shows that nicotine and other cigarette byproducts inhibit fusion. Stopping smoking several months before surgery and during recovery significantly improves the final outcome.
Mental Preparation
In addition to physical condition, mental and emotional readiness is equally important. Patients should know what to expect from each stage of the process (surgery and recovery).
Support at Home
A responsible person is needed to accompany the patient to and from the hospital, and to stay at home to assist with daily hygiene, meals, and other needs. The duration of home support depends on the type of surgery and the patient’s specific circumstances. For most spine surgeries, this support is usually needed only for a few days following the hospital stay.
Preparing the Home
It is wise to prepare the home for the post-operative period. Bending and lifting are often restricted, so essential items such as the phone, food, and medications should be easily accessible. Rearranging furniture may help avoid stairs. Beds may need to be raised if they are too low. Remove rugs to prevent tripping. Special equipment such as walkers or bathroom aids may also be required.
Recovery Plan
Patients should have realistic expectations for post-operative recovery. In rare cases, a brace may be needed for a period. Generally, there will be restrictions that keep the patient away from work and other activities, which should be planned in advance.
Final Preparations for Surgery
A few days before surgery, patients must receive clear instructions regarding stopping certain medications (e.g., anticoagulants), taking routine medications, arranging blood donors, and identifying a hospital companion. These instructions are individualized but generally include the following:
Blood Donors:
Donors should provide blood before surgery. Hospital blood banks usually need 2–3 days to cross-match the required blood.
Food and Medication Instructions:
Patients are typically advised to stop medications that affect blood clotting (anticoagulants or anti-inflammatories) several days before surgery. Blood pressure, thyroid, or other necessary medications are usually taken the morning of surgery with a small sip of water. Most patients should not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery.
Hospital Admission:
On the day of admission, patients should wear comfortable, easy-to-wear clothes and shoes that provide stability. Personal items such as underwear, pajamas, and a toothbrush will be needed. Avoid jewelry or valuable items. Patients usually wear a special hospital gown that fastens at the back.
Conclusion
Although surgery can be psychologically taxing, the better a patient is prepared—both mentally and physically—the better the surgical outcome and the lower the physical and emotional burden during recovery.
Χειρουργός Σπονδυλικής Στήλης
- Ο Χειρουργός Σπονδυλικής Στήλης/ Σκολίωσης Δρ. Ηλίας Χαρ. Παπαδόπουλος γεννήθηκε και μεγάλωσε στην Αθήνα. Αποφοίτησε με Άριστα από την Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών το 1994 και στη συνέχεια ειδικεύτηκε στην ορθοπαιδική, στην Α’ Ορθοπαιδική Κλινική του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών.
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