Conditions & Treatments: Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment

Total Hip Replacement (Direct Anterior Approach) - Preparing for surgery

Fasting Instructions

Fasting is essential prior to surgery. In the event you did not follow the instructions, the surgery will be rescheduled. No food or drinks (except plain water) after midnight or as instructed. Last drink allowed is half a cup (100ml) of plain water.

Medicine

Certain medications need to be stopped in preparation for the surgery. Please inform your doctor of all medications you are on, especially blood thinners or herbal medications.

Special Instructions

Any recent infection, be it involving the throat, lung, urinary tract or skin must be highlighted to the surgeon prior to surgery. Your surgery might have to be postponed.
Have a parent / legal guardian to give consent if you are below 21 years old.

Pre-Operative Assessment

Financial counselling for estimated bill for hospital stay and surgery will be discussed.

You would be asked to come to the Pre operation assessment at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery date to do tests that determine your fitness for the surgery. Examples include:

Blood tests
Urine tests (if indicated)
MRSA screening
Chest Radiograph
Electrocardiogram

You can request to speak to our patient educator at Pre-admission clinic if you have any queries.

You would be instructed to go to the Orthopedic Diagnostic Centre for assessment if required.

Smoking

Smoking causes breathing problems and impedes the rate of healing.

Try to decrease smoking or seek help to stop smoking.

One day before Surgery

The nurse from Same Day Admission (SDA) Clinic will contact you one working day before your scheduled surgery date. The nurse will inform you on the following:

Time to report to hospital and time of surgery. Please bring along your admission kit.
Instruction to fast before surgery.
Medications to consume before surgery.
Bring all CD / X-rays or any medical notes from doctors on the day of admission and hand them to the nurse.
Safekeeping of personal items and valuables in the hospital. Do not bring valuables to hospital.

Duration of Surgery

Approximately: 1 - 2 hours.

After the Surgery

After your surgery, you will be brought to the recovery room in the operating theatre to be monitor before returning to the ward. In the recovery room, the nurse will frequently monitor your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature and pain level).

Your loved ones are advised to wait at the waiting area. Please be informed that the recovery time varies and may take up to several hours. You may be transferred to the general ward/high dependency unit / intensive care unit / short stay ward depending on your condition.