First Steps Toward Surgery

Below is a list of tests and activities that you may be required to complete before your surgery. The items marked with an asterisk (*) are required for everyone. If your surgeon or insurance company recommends it, you may be asked to complete testing that is not on this list.

It is important that you act quickly with completion of your specific requirements, since we cannot give you a date for your surgery until all of your requirements are complete.

• *Stool Test: to check for H. pylori a bacteria that can cause ulcers
• *Blood work: to check for nutritional deficiencies and medical problems
• *Nutrition Classes: to assess your current eating habits and establish a good nutritional plan to prepare for surgery
• *Pre-Op Liquid Diet: All patients must follow a liquid diet for several days before surgery. Your dietitian and surgeon will give you more specific guidelines about this. Download liquid diet information.
• *Support Group Attendance: Patients are required to attend at least one meeting prior to their surgery. The support group meets monthly.
• *Health and Behavior Assessment: to evaluate your emotional readiness for surgery and the lifestyle changes that you will need to make after surgery.
• Health and Behavioral Counseling: Some patients require counseling to be prepared for the emotional and lifestyle changes necessary following surgery.
• Sleep Study: Some patients spend the night in a sleep lab to check for sleep apnea.
• C-PAP Titration: a special sleep study to fit you with a machine to treat sleep apnea
• Pulmonary Consult: Some patients meet with a lung specialist to be sure that their lungs are healthy enough for surgery.
• Cardiology Consult: Some patients meet with a heart specialist to be sure that their heart is healthy enough for surgery.
• Chest x-ray: to rule out lung disease
• EKG: to evaluate the need for further heart health testing.
• Upper GI study: involves drinking a special liquid called barium, x-rays are then taken to look for a hiatal hernia or other digestive problems
• EGD: While sedated, a tube is passed from the patient’s mouth into the small intestine to look for ulcers or other problems.
• Weight Loss: Some patients are required to lose some weight pre-operatively. Your surgeon will discuss this at your initial visit.
• Smoking Cessation: If you are a smoker, you are required to quit smoking and remain smoke-free.