Day Before Surgery
If you develop a cold or flu prior to surgery, please call the nurse practitioner. Surgery may be postponed until you are well.
Antibacterial Shower
On the evening before or the morning of surgery, you will be asked to shower with a special soap (such as Dial®) to reduce the amount of germs on your skin. Also, be sure to wash your hair. Patients with beards may consider shaving. This may ease care in the weeks after surgery.
Nail Polish and Makeup
Patients should remove any nail polish and makeup before surgery. During surgery your circulation is checked by looking at your skin and nail beds.
Diet
Eat a bland meal for dinner the night before your surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery or the morning of your surgery. This includes gum and hard candy.
Preparing for Your Hospital Stay
All valuables such as money and jewelry should be left at home. Please bring the following items with you:
At Home
Do not swallow water when brushing your teeth the night before or morning of surgery. Unless instructed otherwise, take your regular medicine on the morning of surgery with a small sip of water. If you are diabetic, follow your physician's guidelines.
Recovering from Heart Surgery provides more detailed information about your hospital stay, homecare guidelines, and long-term follow-up care.
Contact
For more information regarding mitral valve disease and the treatments available, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.
Visit the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Health Learning Center and Alberto Culver Women's Health Learning Center. These state-of-the-art health information libraries are among the largest hospital-based learning facilities of their kind. For more information call (312) 926-5465.
Mitral Valve Surgery
Before Surgery
Day before Surgery
Day of Surgery
During Surgery
After Surgery
Review Date: 08/07
