The Night Before Surgery
Pre-Operative Scrub
Before surgery you can play an important part in your health. Because skin is not sterile, we need to be sure that your skin is as free of germs as possible before surgery.
You can reduce the number of germs on your skin by carefully washing before surgery. Following these instructions will help you to be sure that your skin is clean before surgery.
Chlorhexadine Glutonate Antiseptic Soap
You will need to shower with the special antiseptic soap called chlorhexadine gluconate (CHG) given to you in pre-admission testing or by the nurse in the hospital.
- Wash and rinse your hair first using your normal shampoo.
- Make sure you completely rinse the shampoo from your hair and body.
- Wet your entire body.
- Turn the water off in the shower or move away from the water spray to avoid rinsing the antiseptic soap solution off.
- Apply the antiseptic CHG soap solution to your body starting at the neck and lather your entire body from the neck down.
- Never use the antiseptic solution near your eyes, ears or mouth.
- Gently wash your body.
- Srub the areas where the incision(s) will be located for about 3 minutes.
- Avoid scrubbing you skin too hard.
- Once you have completed the scrub, rinse the CHG soap off your body completely using shower water.
- Do not wash with regular soap after you have used the antiseptic CHG soap solution.
- Do not shave any areas where surgery will be performed (chest, legs).
- Pat yourself dry with a clean freshly washed towel.
- DO NOT apply any powders, deodorants or lotions.
- Dress with clean, freshly washed clothes.
No Food or Drink After Midnight
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.