Adrenal Cancer

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What to Expect Prior to Surgery

To assure your safety to undergo the procedure testing needs to be performed before surgery. These should include:

  • History and Physical exam
  • EKG (electrocardiogram)
  • Blood tests
    • CBC
    • PT / PTT
    • Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  • Urinalysis, Urine culture
  • Chest x-ray

If you have a history of heart problems, we may request additional clearance from your Cardiologist, which may involve additional testing such as an Echocardiogram or Nuclear Medicine stress test. These tests would be ordered by your Primary Care Physician or Cardiologist depending on your medical history.

If you have excessive hormone production from the adrenal tumor, you may need additional testing and may also need to be started on medication prior to surgery to help control your blood pressure.

Preparing for Surgery

  • One day prior to surgery drink only clear liquids. This includes water, juice, soda, tea, coffee and fluids that you can see through. You are allowed to drink unlimited amounts of liquids from 6 PM until 12:00 midnight prior to your surgery. You should drink as much fluid as possible until 12:00 midnight to prevent dehydration from the bowel prep prescribed. AFTER MIDNIGHT, NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK BY MOUTH.
  • From your local pharmacy, purchase a bottle of Magnesium Citrate. The afternoon prior to surgery (3:00 PM-6:00 PM) drink half a bottle.
  • Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Alka Seltzer, Vitamin E, Ticlid, Coumadin, Lovenox, Celebrex, Voltaren, Vioxx, Plavix and some other arthritis medications can cause bleeding and should be avoided 7 days prior to the date of surgery. Please contact your surgeon's office if you are unsure about which medications to stop prior to surgery. Tylenol is fine. Do not stop any medication without contacting the prescribing doctor to get their approval.