Night-before surgery checklist

Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before surgery — ideally 48 — and none the night before or the morning of. Alcohol interacts with anesthesia, can upset your stomach, and affects bleeding. If you drink daily or heavily, do not just stop on your own: tell your team, because alcohol withdrawal around the time of surgery can be dangerous and they will plan for it.

Tell your anesthesia team if you use cannabis in any form — smoking, vaping, or edibles — even occasionally. Being intoxicated on the day can make surgery less safe and may get it postponed, so don't use it on the day of surgery. If you use it regularly, ideally stop 48–72 hours before, since regular use can mean you need more anesthetic. There's no judgement — it's about giving you the safest anesthetic.

Don't eat or drink past your fasting cut-off, don't drink alcohol, and don't put on lotion, oil, or perfume after your shower. Remove nail polish, set out loose clothing, pack your ID, medicine list and any breathing devices (CPAP/inhaler), and confirm a responsible adult to drive you home.

The oxygen monitor (pulse oximeter) usually clips on a finger and reads through the nail, so polish or acrylics can interfere with it. Makeup, lotion and perfume can irritate, hide skin colour changes the team watches for, or interfere with monitors and dressings.

Often a small amount of clear liquid (water, black coffee, apple juice) is allowed up to about 2 hours before your arrival time, unless your team says otherwise. Check your exact cut-off with the fasting calculator, and follow your hospital's instructions.