Day of Your Operation
Arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled operation time:
Please bring
- Your Ontario Health Card (OHIP card).
- Any other medical insurance information you need for your hospital stay.
- All medications you are taking, in their original bottles. This includes prescription medications, supplements and herbal and natural products that you buy without a prescription.
- Enough comfortable clothes for several days and non-slip shoes or slippers.
- Personal care items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant.
Do not bring:
- Jewellery or anything valuable.
- You may take a shower before coming to the hospital.
- If you were told to take any medications morning of your operation, take them with small sips of water.
- Do not wear perfume, scented lotion, make-up or contact lenses.
After you check in at the Surgical Admission Unit, you will be taken to the
Pre-Operative Care Unit (POCU) where:
- The nurse and surgical team will review your health information, and do blood tests, if needed.
- You will have intravenous (IV) lines put in your arm. The IVs will be used to give you fluids and medications, and check your blood pressure during the operation.
- You will change into a hospital gown and wait in the ‘holding area’ until it is time for your operation.
- Your belongings will be secured in a locker and returned to you after your operation. Send all valuables home with family or friends. Your family can stay with you in POCU until you are taken to the operating room.
Your operation will take 6 to 8 hours depending on how complicated your operation is.
Once you are taken to the operating room, your family can wait in the Surgical Waiting Room on the 3rd floor of the Munk Building. The surgeon will come there to speak with your family when your operation is over.
