What to Do the Night Before Laparoscopic Surgery: Complete Checklist

The night before surgery is when anxiety peaks. Patients call me at 10 PM asking "Can I drink water?" and "Should I take my BP medicine?"

Here is the complete checklist I give my patients at R.K. Hospital. Print this out or save it on your phone.

The Night Before Surgery

Eating and Drinking

• Last meal by 10 PM — Keep it light. Dal-rice, khichdi, or roti-sabzi. Nothing heavy, fried, or spicy.
• No food after midnight — This is critical. An empty stomach prevents vomiting during anaesthesia, which can be dangerous.
• Water is allowed until 4 hours before surgery — Small sips only. If your surgery is at 9 AM, stop water by 5 AM.
• No alcohol for 48 hours — Alcohol affects anaesthesia and increases bleeding.

Medications

• Blood pressure and heart medications: Take them at 5 AM with a small sip of water (unless your anaesthetist says otherwise)
• Diabetes medications: Skip the morning dose on surgery day. We will manage your sugar in the hospital.
• Blood thinners (Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Warfarin): These should have been stopped 5–7 days before surgery. If you forgot, tell us immediately.
• Herbal supplements: Stop everything — ashwagandha, fish oil, turmeric capsules, vitamin E. These can increase bleeding.

What to Pack

• Insurance card and TPA papers — We accept cashless insurance from 30+ companies
• All previous reports — Ultrasound, blood tests, ECG, anything recent
• Loose, comfortable clothes — You will not want tight pants over your abdomen after surgery
• Slip-on shoes — Bending to tie laces will be uncomfortable for a few days
• Phone charger — You will be bored during recovery
• A family member — Someone must be present to sign consent and take you home

Personal Preparation

• Shower the night before — Use regular soap. No need for special antiseptic unless told.
• Remove nail polish — The oxygen monitor clips onto your finger and needs to read through the nail.
• Remove all jewellery — Rings, chains, earrings, bangles. Leave them at home.
• Do not shave the surgical area yourself — We do it in the OT with proper technique to prevent infection.

Morning of Surgery

• Wake up early — Shower again if possible
• Brush your teeth — But do not swallow water
• Wear loose clothes — You will change into a hospital gown anyway
• Leave valuables at home — Phone is fine, but no cash, jewellery, or expensive items
• Arrive at the time given — Usually 1–2 hours before scheduled surgery time

What Happens When You Arrive

1. Admission desk — Paper work, insurance verification (15–20 minutes)
2. Pre-op room — You change into a gown, IV line is started
3. Anaesthetist visit — They check your fitness, explain the anaesthesia, answer questions
4. I visit you — I mark the surgical site, explain what I will do, and answer any last questions
5. OT — You walk into the operating room, lie on the table, the anaesthetist puts you to sleep. The next thing you know, it is over.

Questions Patients Always Ask the Night Before

"Will I feel anything during surgery?"

No. General anaesthesia means you are completely unconscious. You will not feel, hear, or remember anything.

"What if I wake up during surgery?"

This is extremely rare — less than 1 in 20,000 cases. Modern anaesthesia monitors detect awareness immediately.

"Can I use the bathroom before surgery?"

Yes, and you should. An empty bladder is better for abdominal surgery.

"I am scared. Is that normal?"

Completely normal. I have operated on thousands of patients and almost everyone is nervous. The surgery typically takes 30–60 minutes. By evening, you will wonder why you were worried.

"What if something goes wrong?"

This is what experience is for. In 34 years and thousands of laparoscopic surgeries, I have handled every complication that exists. We have a fully equipped OT, ICU, and blood bank. You are in safe hands.

After Surgery: The First 24 Hours

• Hour 1–2: You wake up in recovery, groggy but pain-free
• Hour 3–4: IV fluids, light sips of water if you feel fine
• Hour 4–6: Most patients sit up and walk to the bathroom
• Hour 6–8: Clear liquids — water, tea, thin dal
• Next morning: Light breakfast, walk around the ward, discharge if all is well

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Dr. Rajesh Kanungo is Senior Surgeon & Director at R.K. Hospital, Indrapuri, Bhopal. MBBS, MS, FMAS, FIAGES, DLS (IRCAD, France). 34 years of surgical experience. For consultation, call 0755-4000800.