Surgery

Three to four days after meeting with your urologist to discuss your surgery, you can expect a call from your surgery coordinator to arrange a surgery date and explain the pre-surgery instructions.

Your urologist has specific days set aside for performing surgery. You can view your urologist’s surgery days on his or her profile page. The exact date of your procedure will be determined by the urgency of your health situation, your availability, and the availability of your surgeon, the anesthesiologist and the hospital or surgical facility.

Your urologist is authorized to perform surgery at most major private hospitals in the city. For most out-patient surgical procedures, the location will be the Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center, which is a division of Urology San Antonio.  Your surgery coordinator will tell you which hospital or ambulatory surgery center is recommended for your case. You can take comfort in knowing that the staff is used to working closely with your doctor and has the necessary surgical equipment for your procedure.

If you need to cancel surgery because of a schedule conflict or if you become ill, notify your surgery coordinator right away.

Our office will verify your insurance benefits for your procedure. If an authorization, pre-certification or a referral from your primary care provider or insurance carrier is needed, we’ll request it on your behalf.

All patients preparing for surgery must stop taking aspirin-containing medications and herbal supplements at least 7 days prior to surgery. These medications interfere with blood clotting and continuing to take them could lead to excessive bleeding during and after your procedure.

If you are diabetic and taking insulin or an oral diabetes medication, do not take your medication the morning of your surgery. The nurse at the hospital will check your blood sugar and give you any medication that may be required.

To make sure your body is fit to undergo surgery, your urologist may require that you undergo pre-operative testing. Your surgery coordinator will explain what tests are needed and where you should go to complete them. You must complete all of the tests prior to your surgery date or your surgery may be canceled.

Once your surgery coordinator has scheduled your procedure, you’ll be given instructions about how to contact the hospital or surgical facility to pre-register. During pre-registration, you will receive additional information about the hospital’s policies and what you can expect during your visit.

Eat a light dinner the evening before your surgery. After midnight, do not eat or drink ANYTHING (not even gum, mints or water) unless you have been told otherwise by your surgery coordinator.

If you are diabetic and taking insulin or an oral diabetes medication, do not take your medication the morning of the surgery. The nurse at the hospital will check your blood sugar and give you any medication that may be required.

Arrive at the hospital at the time your surgery coordinator has specified (usually 2 hours before your procedure) and report to the “admitting” area for check in.