Key Patient Messages Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Management for Noncardiac Surgery
Published: September 24, 2024
It’s important to first consider if the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks. This is part of shared decision making.
- Ask your health care provider how this surgery will improve your condition and about the risks of this surgery, based on your current health status.
- Frailty is associated with poor outcomes in surgery. Physical therapy could be helpful.
- Higher levels of stress can lead to more pain and discomfort during recovery. Finding ways to ease your stress before and after recovery can help.
- Understand which drugs to stop taking before your surgery, and how much time in advance you should stop taking those drugs.
- Understand how to take your prescribed drugs during recovery.
- Do not take over the counter supplements and drugs, like aspirin, unless your health care provider tells you to do so. Over the counter drugs could interact with prescribed drugs. This could cause the prescribed medication not to work, and in some cases, cause dangerous side effects.
- Using the P.A.C.E method can help make sure you understand the recovery plan and have a chance to talk about your concerns.
- P = Provide information about how you feel.
- A = Ask questions if you don't have enough information.
- C = Clarify what you hear.
- E = Express any concerns you may have
- Talk with your health care provider about how you will manage pain.
- Ask when and what symptoms to call your health care provider about during recovery.
- Understand which activities you should not do and for how long.
- Understand which activities you can do and when it’s safe to start those activities.