Preparing for your surgery at the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital

You are scheduled for surgery at the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital, which is located in the Tuttleman Center on the Penn Medicine Rittenhouse campus. Get directions to the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital.

There are several things you need to know and do before your procedure for the best surgical experience. Read the instructions below before your surgery to help you prepare. If you do not follow these directions, your procedure may need to be canceled or rescheduled.

Medication

At your pre-op office visit, review your medications with your primary care provider and surgeon.

Be sure to ask which medications are OK to take on the day of your surgery, especially if you take medications for seizures, pain, diabetes, blood pressure, or anxiety.

The day before your surgery

Food and drink

Stop eating by midnight the day before your surgery. This includes candy, mints, and gum.

Smoking

If you smoke, it is important to not smoke for at least 24 hours the day before your surgery, including tobacco, cigars, cannabis, or vaping products to reduce the risk of complications.

Arrive at the Penn Medicine Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital before your scheduled surgery time so that our team can prepare you for your surgery. Get directions to the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital.

You will be called into the preoperative area in the order that your surgery is expected to begin, not the order in which you arrived. We try to begin surgeries as close to your arrival time as possible, but please understand that your scheduled surgery time is an estimate.

After you are checked-in, our staff will explain what to expect during your visit to you and your support person. Your support person may wait with you in the pre-op area.

After your surgery

Recovery room

After your procedure, you will be taken to the recovery room. Your support person will be asked to join you in the recovery area.

Patients respond differently to surgery, so the time you spend in this area will vary depending upon your procedure and the type of anesthesia you have received.

Discomfort and nausea can occur after surgery. You will be asked frequently about your pain level, and the nursing staff will provide you with comfort measures as needed.

Same day outpatient discharge

If you are having an outpatient procedure, a nurse will review your surgeon’s instructions on how to care for yourself once you go home. It is recommended that you have a support person with you to listen to these instructions.

You will be given printed discharge instructions to take home. Please keep and review these instructions the morning after your surgery. This gives you time to recover from the effects of anesthesia, which can temporarily affect your attention span and memory.

You will get an automated message via text message or email the day after your procedure. The message will ask you to share about your experience at Penn Medicine’s Surgery Center of Pennsylvania Hospital