Preparing for surgery
You have tests before your operation to check:
- you are well enough to have an operation and anaesthetic
- that you’ll make a good recovery from surgery
The tests you have depend on what operation you are having and any other health conditions you have. You might have some or all of the following tests:
- blood tests to check the level of
blood cells 
and how well your kidneys are working - a swab test to rule out some infections
- an
ECG (electrocardiogram) or echo (echocardiogram) to check that your heart is healthy - some people might have both - breathing tests (called lung function tests)
- a chest x-ray to check that your lungs are healthy
- a
cardiopulmonary exercise test
The pre operative assessment team will explain what these tests are for and how to prepare for them. You might have these tests as part of your pre operative assessment appointment. Sometimes you have them at a separate appointment.
Who you might meet before your operation
You will see your surgeon before your operation. You may also see an anaesthetist, pharmacist or other members of your treatment team. You may see them during your pre assessment or at a separate appointment.
Learning breathing and leg exercises
Breathing exercises help to stop you from getting a chest infection after surgery. If you smoke, it helps if you can stop at least a few weeks before your operation.
Leg exercises help to stop blood clots forming in your legs. You might also have medicines to stop the blood from clotting. You have them as small injections under the skin.
You start the injections after your operation. You might also wear anti embolism stockings or have pumps on your calves to help the circulation.
Your nurse and physiotherapist will get you up out of bed quite quickly after your surgery. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots forming.
This 3-minute video shows you how to do the breathing and leg exercises.
Breathing and circulation exercises after surgery
These exercises help prevent you developing a chest infection or blood clots in your legs after surgery. These problems are more likely when you are not moving around as you would normally.
You can do these breathing exercises while sitting up in a chair or in a bed or whilst lying down.
Relax your shoulders and upper chest.
Take a slow, deep, comfortable breath in and hold for a couple of seconds, then slowly breathe out.
Repeat this 3 times.
You can start these breathing exercises as soon as you come round from your anaesthetic.
You should try to do them every hour when awake until you are fully mobile.
If you need to cough, support your wound with your arms, a pillow or a rolled up towel.
If you are struggling to clear any phlegm, try a huff. This is where you breathe out in a short, sharp manner as if you were trying to steam up a mirror.
You should move about as soon as possible after your operation. But while you are not as mobile, try to keep your legs moving to encourage better circulation.
You can do these exercises in a bed or in a chair.
One foot at a time point your toes away from you then pull your toes towards your chin.
Try to do 10 of these on both feet at least 2-3 times an hour.
The next exercise is circling your ankles. One at time circle your ankles, clockwise and then anticlockwise. Repeat this 10 times with each ankle 2-3 times an hour.
The evening before
You might go into hospital the evening before or the morning of your surgery.
Your nurse might give you a carbohydrate-rich drink to have the evening before the operation. You might also have it the following morning. The drink gives you energy and can speed up your recovery.
When you're in hospital your nurse will check your:
- blood pressure
- pulse
- temperature
- breathing rate
You might have fluids through a drip (intravenous infusion) into your arm. This is usually if you have been finding it difficult to drink.
