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What to Expect During Your Stay

Do I need Pre-Operative Anaesthesia Evaluation?

If you are scheduled for a surgery or procedure, you may need to undergo a pre-operative anaesthesia evaluation to assess your medical condition and help you to be medically prepared for surgery. The Pre-operative Evaluation Clinic (PEC) is located at SKH Medical Centre on Level 3 (see SKH Map).

If you are unwell before your appointment, please contact us soonest at +65 6930 6001 to reschedule, or your surgery date may be affected.

What to Expect During the Evaluation?

Our medical staff from the Department of Anaesthesiology will:

Evaluate your health status and risks for anaesthesia and surgery
Review all your medical records
Conduct history taking, physical examination and investigations (blood tests, electrocardiogram or chest x-ray)
Discuss various anaesthesia risks and options with you

A referral to other medical specialists may be needed depending on your assessment and investigations.

Please inform us if you or any family member has had problems with anaesthesia and/or surgery in the past. If you have seen a doctor at another institution, please bring along all medical reports, X-ray films, investigation results, and medications.

Do also inform us of all medications that you are consuming, especially blood-thinning medications (e.g. Aspirin, Chlopidogrel, Warfarin, Rivaroxaban, etc.), and any supplements including herbal and traditional medicines (e.g. cordyceps, gingko biloba, lingzhi, etc.) as these may potentially interact with drugs administered during surgery.

You will also be given several pre-operative instructions (e.g. medications to stop / continue), referral to other specialists (if relevant) and fasting timings.

Important Instructions for Surgery & Procedure

These instructions are important to your safety. Your surgery or procedure may be cancelled or postponed if you do not follow the instructions given.

Please DO:

✔ Wear comfortable clothes and shoes so it is easy to get dressed

✔ Bring a case to store your spectacles / contact lenses / dentures, as they must be removed before surgery

✔ Bring the necessary documents as stated here

✔ Get a parent / guardian to accompany you if you are aged under 21

✔ Take your premedication (if any), as instructed by Doctor / Anaesthetist, and inform us if you have taken any other medications

✔ Inform us if you have loose teeth or if you are wearing dentures / caps

✔ Arrange for a family member or friend to accompany you home after surgery

✔ Bring along all X-ray films / CD and medical appliances as instructed if you have them at home (e.g. stockings, braces)

✔ Call early to inform us if you are unwell prior to your surgery and/or on your day of surgery

Surgery on 2 (Day Surgery/Short Stay Ward): +65 6930 3724
Surgery on 2 (Interventional Radiology): +65 6930 3958
Surgery on 3: +65 6930 3829

If you are under general / regional anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation

✔ Have your regular meal before fasting and avoid alcohol

If you are under local anaesthesia

✔ Fasting is NOT required, unless otherwise advised by doctor

If you are under general / regional anaesthesia

✔ Take a thorough bath and shampoo using the chlorhexidine bath provided on the evening before your surgery day, focus on surgery site, underarms and groin so as to reduce risk of wound infection.

Please DO NOT:

✘ Smoke before surgery

✘ Wear make-up / nail polish (including gel or artificial nails) so we can monitor your skin color

✘ Wear jewellery, including body piercings, as they may affect the use of electrical equipment

✘ Bring along valuables or electronic devices

✘ Drive on your surgery day

✘ Make personal plans on the day of the surgery if possible

If you are under general / regional anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation

✘ Do not eat or drink unless otherwise directed, to prevent problems such as stomach contents entering the lungs during surgery.

✘ Do not drive or ride any form of vehicles (including bicycles and personal mobility device), operate machines, exercise, drink alcohol, take sedative drugs, make important decisions or sign any legal documents for approximately 24 hours after surgery.

Patient Journey

Do I need Pre-Operative Anaesthesia Evaluation?

What to Expect During the Evaluation?

Important Instructions for Surgery & Procedure

Please DO:

Please DO NOT: