Preparing for Surgery

Most of what makes an operation go smoothly happens in the weeks before it. This page takes you and your family through each step, from your tests to the night before surgery. Our team will guide you at every stage, so you won't have to work it out alone.

Reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary, Last reviewed November 2026

Once you and your surgeon have decided on an operation, there is a fair bit to arrange. At our spine clinic at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai, we find that patients who prepare well feel calmer and have an easier recovery. You don't need to read everything at once. Start with the section that matches where you are now.

Who will look after you?

Your surgeon and the spine fellows plan and perform the operation and see you every day in hospital. The anaesthetist checks that you are fit for anaesthesia and looks after you during surgery. If you need a medical opinion, for diabetes or heart problems for example, the hospital's physician will see you. Nurses and physiotherapists help you get up and walking after surgery, and our insurance and TPA desk helps with the paperwork.

What tests do I need before spine surgery?

Before surgery you are seen in Hinduja's pre-anaesthesia clinic. The anaesthetist goes through your health, your medicines and your test results. If you need clearance from a physician, the hospital's physician will see you there, so you don't need a separate letter from your family doctor.

These are the usual tests:

Your doctor may add other tests depending on your health.

What if I have diabetes or high blood pressure?

High blood sugar slows healing and raises the risk of a wound infection. If your HbA1c is above about 7.5%, we usually postpone a planned operation until your sugar is better controlled. It is worth the wait. Keep taking your blood pressure and diabetes medicines as usual unless you are told otherwise.

Which medicines should I stop before surgery?

• Blood thinners such as aspirin and clopidogrel are usually stopped 5 days before surgery. Do not stop them on your own. The doctor who started the medicine (your physician or cardiologist) decides whether and when it is safe to stop.
• Ayurvedic and herbal medicines, including over-the-counter supplements, should be stopped before surgery. Some affect bleeding or interact with anaesthesia.
• Regular painkillers can usually be continued. Tell us what you take.

Make a written list of every medicine you take, with the dose and time. Include eye drops, inhalers, vitamins and supplements. The anaesthetist will tell you which ones to take on the morning of surgery.

Should I stop smoking or chewing tobacco?

Yes. Stop smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery. This includes cigarettes, bidis, gutkha and other chewing tobacco. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, so wounds heal more slowly, and after a fusion the bones may not join as well. Lungs also clear better after anaesthesia in people who have stopped. If you find it hard to quit, tell us and we can help. Tell your anaesthetist honestly how much alcohol you drink.

How can I get my body ready?

• Walk every day, as far as your pain allows. Fitter patients get back on their feet sooner.
• Practise deep breathing. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then breathe out through your mouth. Repeat 10 times, a few times a day. This helps keep your lungs clear after surgery.
• Do gentle exercises if they are comfortable, such as the core exercises for your lower back. If you are having neck surgery, ask us first. Stop any exercise that increases your pain.
• Eat enough protein, because it helps wounds heal. Good sources are dal, paneer, curd and sprouts; eggs; and chicken and fish.
• Look after your bones. Your vitamin D level is checked before surgery. Read about vitamin D deficiency and calcium tablets.

Insurance, paperwork and blood

Our team will guide you through insurance, TPA and pre-authorisation, whether your policy is cashless or reimbursement. Keep your policy card, policy papers and a photo ID ready. If your employer needs a medical certificate or leave letter, ask us.

Blood donation is voluntary. You may not need any blood during surgery, but we encourage families to arrange a few donors so the hospital blood bank stays stocked for everyone.

How should I get my home ready?

A little time spent on this before admission makes coming home much easier.

• If your home has an Indian-style toilet, arrange a commode chair or a raised toilet seat. Squatting is hard after spine surgery.
• Sleep on a bed, not a mattress on the floor. Getting up from the floor strains your back.
• Keep a plastic stool in the bathroom so you can sit for a bucket bath.
• Move things you use every day to between waist and shoulder height, so you don't bend or reach overhead.
• Remove loose rugs, doormats and wires from the floor, and keep a night light on the way to the bathroom.
• Choose a firm chair with armrests to sit in. Avoid low sofas and sitting on the floor.
• Arrange for a family member or attendant to help for the first one to two weeks, with meals, bathing and housework.

Do not buy a belt or brace in advance. If you need one, it is prescribed in hospital.

I'm coming from outside Mumbai. What should I plan?

Plan to stay in Mumbai for one to two weeks after you leave hospital before travelling home. This lets us check your wound and progress before a long journey. Book a place to stay near the hospital, keep your return ticket flexible, and bring all your old reports and scans with you.

When will I be admitted?

You are admitted the evening before surgery. The hospital will call you when your bed is ready, so keep your phone with you and your bag packed that day. In the evening, the nurses help you with an antiseptic (chlorhexidine) body wash to clean your skin. The team will check your papers and answer any last questions.

Tell us before you come in if you have a fever, cough, cold, loose motions, a urine infection, or any boil or cut on your back or neck. The operation may need to be moved to a safer date.

How long should I fast before surgery?

Do not eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before surgery. That includes water, tea, milk and juice. The nurses will tell you the exact time to start fasting. If you are told to take a medicine that morning, swallow it with a small sip of water. Eating or drinking too close to surgery is unsafe under anaesthesia, and your operation may be delayed.

What should I pack?

Documents

• Photo ID (Aadhaar or PAN card), insurance policy card and papers
• All your MRI, CT and X-ray films and CDs, and old reports
• Your written medicine list

Clothes and personal items

• Loose, front-opening shirts or kurtas, and pyjamas
• Chappals with a back strap and non-slip soles (no loose slippers)
• Toothbrush, comb, toiletries and a phone charger
• Glasses, hearing aids or dentures, with a labelled box for each
• Your inhaler or CPAP machine, if you use one

Leave at home all jewellery, valuables and large amounts of cash. One family member can stay with you as your attendant.

What happens on the day of surgery?

You are taken to the operating theatre, where the anaesthetist meets you before you go to sleep. Your family waits outside, and your surgeon speaks to them once the operation is over. You wake up in the recovery room and then return to the ward. Most patients walk on the day of surgery and go home the next day. After a fusion, patients usually walk within a day and stay in hospital 2 to 3 days. Read After Your Surgery for what comes next.

Questions to ask your surgeon

• What exactly will the operation involve, and how long will it take?
• How many days will I be in hospital?
• Will I need a belt, brace or collar afterwards?
• When can I sit, travel and climb stairs?
• When can I go back to work?
• Who do I call if I have a problem after going home?

This page is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Please see a doctor for advice about your own symptoms.