Preparing for Your Transplant Surgery
Montefiore Einstein provides support services during every stage of transplant surgery, including language translation, education, nutrition guidance, insurance navigation assistance and a lifetime of follow-up care.
Before your surgery, it’s important that you follow all instructions provided by your doctor and transplant team. At least one business day before your surgery, you will receive a phone call from a member of our team to review important information, including your arrival time, time of surgery, when you should stop eating and drinking and where you should report for surgery.
If you are receiving a living donor transplant, surgery will be scheduled in advance.
Transplant Checklist
Before your transplant surgery, please:
- Take medications with a glass of water as instructed by your surgeon before 5:00 a.m. the morning of surgery.
- Complete all tasks that were asked of you (for example, enema or bowel preparation).
- Take a shower using antibacterial soap (such as Safeguard® or Dial®), or use antibacterial wipes as instructed before you arrive.
- Plan for the day ahead: brush your teeth, taking care to not swallow any water or toothpaste; wear clean, comfortable, loose-fitting clothing; bring prosthetic and orthopedic devices or other medical equipment if your doctor prescribed them, including glasses, hearing aids and dentures, along with a case for safe storage during your procedure.
- Bring toiletries, a change of clothes and anything else you feel you will need.
- Carry your identification, medical insurance card and means for covering any necessary co-payment.
- Bring a copy of your advance directives, if necessary. Learn more about advance directives and assigning a healthcare proxy.
- Please contact your surgeon’s office immediately if you are feeling unwell, have questions, or need to cancel your surgery.
- Do not eat anything after midnight before your procedure (including candy, mints and cough drops) unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon or anesthesiologist.
- Do not drink anything other than water after midnight before surgery; you may have plain water until 5:00 a.m. on the day of your surgery.
- Do not drink alcohol 24 hours before surgery.
- Do not shave any part of your body within 24 hours of surgery.
- Do not wear contact lenses, makeup, nail polish, jewelry, piercings, wigs, hair pins or hair pieces, which can interfere with surgery.
- Do not bring valuables with you to the hospital, including wedding rings, mobile phones or your suitcase; you may leave these with the person accompanying you to your surgery.
Schedule a Visit
Montefiore Einstein Center for Transplantation offers expert transplant surgery and care for liver, kidney, heart, lung and pancreas transplant. Find phone numbers and other contact information for the specific care you need on our Contact Page.