For Patients

Hours

Advanced Surgical Associates is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each physician has a different schedule for treating patients in the office and the operating room.

Scheduling Appointments

Please contact our receptionist during office hours at 480.969.4138, or schedule your follow-up appointment as you leave our office. If you must cancel an appointment, please call at least 24 hours in advance, so that we may accommodate another patient.

We know that your time is important and we try to have you see your doctor at the time of your scheduled appointment, but due to complexity and unpredictability of our patients' problems, delays may occur. We appreciate your patience at these times.

Emergencies

You may reach our office 24 hours a day. When the office is closed, the answering service will take a message. If you have a medical emergency, we recommend that you go to the emergency room and tell them that you wish to receive treatment from one of our physicians.

Medical Records

Please bring all the medical records, x-rays, and lab work which relate to the condition(s) for which you are seeking treatment. Copies of the reports we prepare in our office are available to you. There is a service fee for these copies.

General Pre-Op Surgery Instructions

Testing: It is extremely important that all your pre-op testing is completed 2 weeks to a minimum of 1 week prior to surgery. Non-compliance may result in the postponement of surgery.

Do NOT eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior to your surgery including gum, water, and candy.

Do NOT take any aspirin or aspirin products for one (1) week prior to surgery.

Do NOT take herbal supplements such as, Fish Oil, Vitamin E or St. John's Wort for three (3) weeks prior to surgery.

Day of Surgery:

Wear comfortable clothes.
Do NOT wear makeup or jewelry.
Take a case for your glasses, contacts, and/or dentures.
Take a list (ONLY) of all your medications.
After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery unit usually for 1-2 hours.
If you are admitted to the hospital, you will be taken to your hospital room from recovery.
If you have had outpatient surgery, you will be discharged with orders from your physician. The nurse in the recovery room will review the discharge instructions with you. You MUST make arrangements for someone to drive you home. If you have had a general anesthesia, a responsible caregiver should stay with you for your first 24 hours at home.

General Post-Op Surgery Instructions

DIET: You may eat whenever you like following a procedure but most patients find a bland or liquid diet to be preferable for a day or two.

MEDICIATIONS: Unless specifically instructed, you may restart any medication previously prescribed. Pain medications should be taken as directed on the label and can be refilled usually by telephone but only during normal business hours.

BATHING: You may shower the day after surgery. Soaking in the bathtub, hot tub or pool is discouraged until after your doctor releases you, usually after the post-op visit.

DRESSING: Dry gauze dressings should be removed on the day after surgery. Commonly, small paper strips (steristrips or butterflies) will be present and will remain for several days. These will fall off and should not be removed for one week. Dissolving sutures will be beneath the skin.

ACTIVITY: You may gradually return to normal activity levels and daily tasks as your discomfort permits. Specific limitations concerning sports and lifting will be addressed at the post-op visit.

DRIVING: Often it is best to avoid driving until after the post operative visit once the wound is healing well and your pain is significantly decreased.

WORK OR SCHOOL: One may return to work or school when the discomfort allows, providing the limitations on sports or lifting are met. Most patients prefer to wait to return until after a post-op visit.

RETURN VISIT: Please call the Advanced Surgical Associate office at 480.969.4138 to arrange for a routine post- operative check. This will usually be within 10 to 14 days of your surgery/procedure.

CALL THE OFFICE: If you experience any of the following problems, please call Advanced Surgical Associate at 480.969.4138:

Fever over 101 F
Excessive Bleeding
Excessive Redness
Nausea or vomiting

Popular Herbal Products & Possible Side Effects or Interactions with Anesthetics

BLACK COHOSH: Blood pressure decrease; may increase bleeding

CAYENNE: Stimulant and increases blood flow

ECHINACEA: Immune suppression; liver inflammation

EPHEDRA: Suppress appetite, stimulant

FEVERFEW: Migraine, insomnia, anxiety and joint stiffness; risk of prolonged bleeding

GARLIC: Blood pressure changes; risk of prolonged bleeding

GINGER: Sedative effects; risk of bleeding, especially if taken with aspirin and gingko

GINSENG: Insomnia and irritability; risk of cardiac effects

GOLDENSEAL: Liver/bile, wound healing

HAWTHORNE: Angina, coronary circulation

HOODIA: Changes in blood sugar; possible arrhythmia

KAVA: Sedative effects; potential liver toxicity; risk of additive effect to medications

LAVENDER: Sedative, antiflatulent

LEMON BALM Anti-anxiety, sedative, antispasmodic, digestive

LICORICE: Gastric-intestinal symptoms, anti-inflammatory agent

MIK THISTLE: Liver, possible toxicity

SAW PALMETTO: Diuretic, sedative

ST JOHNS WORT: Sedation; blood pressure changes; risk of interaction with other medications that prolong effects w/anesthesia

VALERIAN: Increased sedative effects



HOME OUR SURGEONS PROCEDURES INSURANCE CONTACT US FOR PATIENTS PATIENT FORMS
For Patients Hours Advanced Surgical Associates is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each physician has a different schedule for treating patients in the office and the operating room. Scheduling Appointments Please contact our receptionist during office hours at 480.969.4138, or schedule your follow-up appointment as you leave our office. If you must cancel an appointment, please call at least 24 hours in advance, so that we may accommodate another patient. We know that your time is important and we try to have you see your doctor at the time of your scheduled appointment, but due to complexity and unpredictability of our patients' problems, delays may occur. We appreciate your patience at these times. Emergencies You may reach our office 24 hours a day. When the office is closed, the answering service will take a message. If you have a medical emergency, we recommend that you go to the emergency room and tell them that you wish to receive treatment from one of our physicians. Medical Records Please bring all the medical records, x-rays, and lab work which relate to the condition(s) for which you are seeking treatment. Copies of the reports we prepare in our office are available to you. There is a service fee for these copies. General Pre-Op Surgery Instructions Testing: It is extremely important that all your pre-op testing is completed 2 weeks to a minimum of 1 week prior to surgery. Non-compliance may result in the postponement of surgery. Do NOT eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior to your surgery including gum, water, and candy. Do NOT take any aspirin or aspirin products for one (1) week prior to surgery. Do NOT take herbal supplements such as, Fish Oil, Vitamin E or St. John's Wort for three (3) weeks prior to surgery. Day of Surgery: Wear comfortable clothes. Do NOT wear makeup or jewelry. Take a case for your glasses, contacts, and/or dentures. Take a list (ONLY) of all your medications. After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery unit usually for 1-2 hours. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will be taken to your hospital room from recovery. If you have had outpatient surgery, you will be discharged with orders from your physician. The nurse in the recovery room will review the discharge instructions with you. You MUST make arrangements for someone to drive you home. If you have had a general anesthesia, a responsible caregiver should stay with you for your first 24 hours at home. General Post-Op Surgery Instructions DIET: You may eat whenever you like following a procedure but most patients find a bland or liquid diet to be preferable for a day or two. MEDICIATIONS: Unless specifically instructed, you may restart any medication previously prescribed. Pain medications should be taken as directed on the label and can be refilled usually by telephone but only during normal business hours. BATHING: You may shower the day after surgery. Soaking in the bathtub, hot tub or pool is discouraged until after your doctor releases you, usually after the post-op visit. DRESSING: Dry gauze dressings should be removed on the day after surgery. Commonly, small paper strips (steristrips or butterflies) will be present and will remain for several days. These will fall off and should not be removed for one week. Dissolving sutures will be beneath the skin. ACTIVITY: You may gradually return to normal activity levels and daily tasks as your discomfort permits. Specific limitations concerning sports and lifting will be addressed at the post-op visit. DRIVING: Often it is best to avoid driving until after the post operative visit once the wound is healing well and your pain is significantly decreased. WORK OR SCHOOL: One may return to work or school when the discomfort allows, providing the limitations on sports or lifting are met. Most patients prefer to wait to return until after a post-op visit. RETURN VISIT: Please call the Advanced Surgical Associate office at 480.969.4138 to arrange for a routine post- operative check. This will usually be within 10 to 14 days of your surgery/procedure. CALL THE OFFICE: If you experience any of the following problems, please call Advanced Surgical Associate at 480.969.4138: Fever over 101 F Excessive Bleeding Excessive Redness Nausea or vomiting Popular Herbal Products & Possible Side Effects or Interactions with Anesthetics BLACK COHOSH: Blood pressure decrease; may increase bleeding CAYENNE: Stimulant and increases blood flow ECHINACEA: Immune suppression; liver inflammation EPHEDRA: Suppress appetite, stimulant FEVERFEW: Migraine, insomnia, anxiety and joint stiffness; risk of prolonged bleeding GARLIC: Blood pressure changes; risk of prolonged bleeding GINGER: Sedative effects; risk of bleeding, especially if taken with aspirin and gingko GINSENG: Insomnia and irritability; risk of cardiac effects GOLDENSEAL: Liver/bile, wound healing HAWTHORNE: Angina, coronary circulation HOODIA: Changes in blood sugar; possible arrhythmia KAVA: Sedative effects; potential liver toxicity; risk of additive effect to medications LAVENDER: Sedative, antiflatulent LEMON BALM Anti-anxiety, sedative, antispasmodic, digestive LICORICE: Gastric-intestinal symptoms, anti-inflammatory agent MIK THISTLE: Liver, possible toxicity SAW PALMETTO: Diuretic, sedative ST JOHNS WORT: Sedation; blood pressure changes; risk of interaction with other medications that prolong effects w/anesthesia VALERIAN: Increased sedative effects	Advanced Laparoscopy General Surgery Breast Surgery Surgical Oncology Colorectal Surgery Did you Know... Ultrasound can be used in the office to perform minimally invasive breast biopsies through two millimeter incisions.