For patients of Dr. Alan J. Appley, MD FACS – Acadiana Neurosurgery

You must quit smoking immediately. This is especially true for patients having a fusion since smoking impairs the body's ability to form new bone. Please let us know if you need assistance with this. You can purchase nicotine patches over-the-counter and we can prescribe ZybanÒ (wellbutrin) to help you quit. The sooner you do this, the better off your lungs will be during and after surgery.

To minimize the risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery, discontinue all aspirin-containing medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; ibuprofen, CelebrexÒ, VioxxÒ, etc.) at least one week prior to your surgery.

Take all of your routine medications the morning of surgery with a sip of water. The only exceptions are:

• Aspirin-containing medications
• NSAIDs
• Blood-thinners such as coumadin, PlavixÒ, TiclidÒ, persantine, etc.
• Diabetic medications such as insulin, GlucotrolÒ, GlucophageÒ, etc.

Bring to the hospital a detailed list of the medications that you are taking as well as their dosages.

We will provide you with your post-op pain medication before surgery. If not, be sure to ask so that there will be no delay in obtaining your medications once you are discharged from the hospital.

• To minimize the chance of infection, you should take a shower the night before (or morning of) surgery with BetadineÒ or PhisohexÒ shampoo
• No eating or drinking (except medications with a sip of water as described above) after midnight prior to surgery.
• It is absolutely essential that you bring all of your films with you the morning of surgery. If your films are not from this hospital, then please remember to take them home with you on discharge.