Pre-Surgery Checklist

Please ensure that the following occur in advance of your surgical date. Everything on the list should be performed at Hospital for Special Surgery, if applicable. If you have any questions, please contact the office at (212) 606-1128 to go over the checklist

• Medical clearance with an HSS physician
• Chest x-ray
• Recent Hip or Knee x-rays, within the last 3 months
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Blood testing
• Urinalysis
• Education class: either in person, or via webinar (for some types of surgery)
• Update insurance information with the office to ensure proper pre-authorization
• Relax: We realize that having surgery is not an easy prospect, but it is something we do every day, and it has the ability to transform your life!

Please check with the clearing medical doctor about which medications you should stop in advance of surgery. If you are on a blood thinner (warfarin, heparin, Pradaxa, Arixtra, etc.), please let us know at least 2 weeks before surgery, as these medicines need to be discontinued in order to be able to perform the surgery safely.

Blood Donation

Blood loss is quite minimal after total joint replacement these days, and rarely is a blood transfusion necessary. We have expert anesthesiologists who work to keep your blood pressure low during surgery, minimizing the amount of blood lost during the surgery. About 1 pint of blood is lost during the course of surgery and immediately thereafter. If you can tolerate a pint of blood loss, you will not need a transfusion. If you need a transfusion after surgery and have not donated blood for yourself we have blood in our blood bank available for you.