Getting Ready for Surgery
To prepare for your dialysis access surgery, it is important that on the night before your procedure, you avoid any food or drink after midnight. Your dialysis access nurse coordinator will tell you about any medications you may need to take prior to the surgery as well as medications you should avoid. Dialysis access surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, meaning you will not need to stay overnight at the hospital. You should make arrangements to have someone pick you up following your surgery. For your safety, BIDMC does not allow dialysis access patients to leave the hospital - even by taxicab or public transportation - without a family member, friend, or other support person.