Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIllness and Surgery DelayWhen to Notify a SurgeonConditions That Delay SurgeryStay Healthy Before Surgery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Illness and Surgery Delay
When to Notify a Surgeon
Conditions That Delay Surgery
Stay Healthy Before Surgery
Getting sick right before surgery may or may not delay the scheduled procedure. If your illness is related to the reason you’re having surgery, such as chest pain, then heart surgery is likely to be performed as planned. If you’re sick with a respiratory condition (like bronchitis or pneumonia) or a contagious illness (like the flu or chickenpox), your surgery will likely be postponed.
For many people, preparing for surgery is a process that may take weeks or even months before the procedure is actually done. To help you prepare, be familiar with the types of illnesses that may delay surgery and consider things to avoid before a planned operation.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Illness May or May Not Delay Surgery
Across the world, surgeries are canceled every day. A literature review that looked at these events over a 10-year period found that 18% of planned procedures were canceled on the day they were meant to occur. Change in patient health was the cause in nearly one out of every four such events.
In some cases, your illness may be related to the reason for your surgery. For example, you may be experiencing severe chest pain due tocoronary artery disease. If you are scheduled foropen-heart surgeryto improve that condition, it would likely go on as planned.
On the other hand, if you are diagnosed withinfluenzabefore elective surgery, there’s a good chance it will be postponed. A respiratory infection orstomach flumight delay surgery too.
There are reasons why feeling unwell could lead to a canceled procedure. That said, there are also reasons why your health changes would give cause to move forward.
The decision also depends on how long an illness typically takes to resolve.Strep throat, for example, is no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics.It might not delay surgery.
Usually, your surgeon will make a final decision on whether to move forward. They will consider factors such as how severe your illness is and what type of surgery you have planned.
If you are sick in the days leading up to surgery, be sure to tell your surgeon—and the sooner, the better. Only your surgeon can decide if your symptoms are severe enough to lead to a delay.
If you are experiencing a minor illness in the week prior to surgery, or a moderate to severe illness in the two weeks before surgery, notify your surgeon immediately.
You may think it makes sense to wait in the hopes of getting better in time, but keep in mind that you may be charged some fees for a surgery that’s canceled at the last minute.
Conditions That May Delay Surgery
There are quite a few health conditions that might require a postponement of your surgery. Among them are several respiratory illnesses.
In particular, health issues that affect your breathing may lead to cancellation because they complicate the use of anesthesia needed during your procedure.
Asthma Symptoms
Asthma alone is not a reason to cancel surgery. However, any serious increase in asthma symptoms in the days or weeks leading up to surgery may lead to a delay until the problem improves.
People who have severe asthma symptoms ahead of their surgery are at a higher risk for complications from the procedure.Let your surgeon know right away if your asthma symptoms worsen prior to your surgery date.
Breathing Problems
Breathing problems can lead to the delay or cancellation of a procedure. Patients who have general anesthesia are at increased risk for breathing difficulties, includingpneumonia.
For that reason,pulmonary function testsmay be done to make sure that you are breathing as well as possible. This is intended to reduce the risk of breathing problems after surgery.
A new diagnosis of a severe breathing problem may postpone surgery or lead to a canceled surgery. Temporary breathing issues that may delay a procedure include:
Common Cold
Whether your surgery is postponed or not will depend on your symptoms. If it’s a mild cold with a runny nose but no other symptoms, the surgery is likely to be done as planned. If the cold is more severe, you have a sinus infection, a bad cough, or a sore throat, the surgery will likely be postponed.
Respiratory infections may make it harder for you to get enough oxygen while under anesthesia. Call your surgeon’s office before the procedure so they can help you decide whether it’s safe to continue with the surgery or if it makes more sense to wait.
Usually after two weeks of your cold or sinus infection symptoms being resolved, you can go ahead with the surgery.
COVID
In cases where surgery is essential, your surgeon may relax these requirements.
Contagious Illness
A contagious illness, such aschickenpoxormeasles, will usually delay your surgery. You can expect it to be postponed until you are no longer contagious unless the procedure is so critical that it absolutely cannot wait.
Fever
Afevercan lead to a delay in surgery, particularly if it is very high or unexplained. A low-grade temperature may not lead to a delay in surgery.
One study found that fever, along with respiratory illness, was among the reasons for cancellation in 24% of all elective surgeries where the patient’s condition was the cause of the delay. Those rates were even higher during winter months when fever-related infection was more likely.
Keep in mind that a delayed surgery is all the more likely when the reason for the fever is not known.
Infection
Infectionin the week or two prior to surgery can be cause for delay, depending on the type.
A minor infection, such as a skin or urinary tract infection, is less likely to lead to a delay in your procedure. Whereas major infections, such assepsisormeningitis, may cause your surgery to be delayed.
Influenza
A bout ofinfluenza, or flu, can be the reason for a delay in your surgery. However, most cases of the flu will typically be over within a week.
Serious complications of the flu are fairly rare, so most people with a case of the flu will see a brief delay before the procedure.
Sore Throat
The cause of your sore throat and the urgency of your surgery will likely determine whether to postpone the procedure or not. A mild sore throat with no other symptoms may not be a reason to cancel your surgery. However, the anesthetic used during surgery may make a sore throat worse for a few days.
A severe sore throat, includingstrep throatortonsillitis(swollen, inflamed tonsils), is a reason to delay surgery. Let your doctor’s office know if you’ve had a sore throat in the two weeks before your surgery. They will decide whether it’s safe to go ahead with the surgery or postpone it.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
Uncontrolleddiabetescan increase the risks of complications after surgery. High glucose, or blood sugar, levels can increase the risk of infections. It also may lead to slow wound healing and increased recovery times.
For this reason, problems with diabetes may lead to delayed surgery until your blood sugar is under better control.
Vomiting
Any vomiting symptom can be a cause for surgery delay. Vomiting during surgery can cause aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication from food or liquid getting into the lungs.
Vomiting after surgerycan cause other problems too. It may increase pain and put more stress on some types of incisions. This can make the recovery process more difficult.
One exception to the rule may be when the surgery is meant to correct the vomiting. That’s more likely when the surgery is intended to correct a digestive tract disorder.
How to Stay Healthy Before Surgery
If you have a scheduled procedure, take steps in the weeks leading up to the operation to build your immunity and avoid situations that put you at risk for common illnesses.
Specific things you can do include the following:
What Not to Do 7 Days Before SurgeryIn the week before an operation, there are things you also may need to stop doing.Talk to your surgeon about blood thinners and estrogen-containing birth control you may be taking.You may also need to avoid aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve), multivitamins, and herbal supplements
What Not to Do 7 Days Before Surgery
In the week before an operation, there are things you also may need to stop doing.Talk to your surgeon about blood thinners and estrogen-containing birth control you may be taking.You may also need to avoid aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve), multivitamins, and herbal supplements
In the week before an operation, there are things you also may need to stop doing.
Talk to your surgeon about blood thinners and estrogen-containing birth control you may be taking.
You may also need to avoid aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve), multivitamins, and herbal supplements
Summary
There are a few possible outcomes when you get sick before a scheduled surgery. There may be no delay, for example, with a minor illness. There also may be no delay when the changes in your health are a part of the condition that the surgery is meant to correct.
Often, though, your procedure may need to be postponed if you have symptoms like vomiting or trouble breathing. Be sure to let your surgeon know about your illness while there’s still plenty of time for them to make a decision about whether to proceed.
A Word From VerywellSurgeons and anesthesiologists work towards a common goal of risk mitigation when performing surgery. It’s necessary to assess surgical risk based on the patient’s health status prior to the procedure. If the condition is related to the procedure, there should be no delay or postponement. However, if the case is elective and there are symptoms present that increase the risk of complications, a risk-benefit analysis is needed to decide whether to proceed.—ALEXIS APPELSTEIN, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Surgeons and anesthesiologists work towards a common goal of risk mitigation when performing surgery. It’s necessary to assess surgical risk based on the patient’s health status prior to the procedure. If the condition is related to the procedure, there should be no delay or postponement. However, if the case is elective and there are symptoms present that increase the risk of complications, a risk-benefit analysis is needed to decide whether to proceed.—ALEXIS APPELSTEIN, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Surgeons and anesthesiologists work towards a common goal of risk mitigation when performing surgery. It’s necessary to assess surgical risk based on the patient’s health status prior to the procedure. If the condition is related to the procedure, there should be no delay or postponement. However, if the case is elective and there are symptoms present that increase the risk of complications, a risk-benefit analysis is needed to decide whether to proceed.
—ALEXIS APPELSTEIN, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abate SM, Chekole YA, Minaye SY, Basu B.Global prevalence and reasons for case cancellation on the intended day of surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;26:55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ijso.2020.08.006Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Wendel P.Can You Have Surgery With a Cold?Hospital for Special Surgery.Lin CS, Chang CC, Yeh CC, Chung CL, Chen TL, Liao CC.Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(3):e2548. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002548Ntima NO, Lumb AB.Pulmonary function tests in anaesthetic practice.BJA Education. 2019;19(7):206-211. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2019.02.001Wendel P.Why do anesthesiologists care about a common cold? Hospital for Special Surgery.University of Maryland Medical Center.Pre-surgery checklist.American Society of Anesthesiologists.COVID-19 and Elective Surgery.Fayed A, Elkouny A, Zoughaibi N, Wahabi HA.Elective surgery cancelation on day of surgery: An endless dilemma.Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia. 2016;10(1):68. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.169479UCLA Children’s Hospital.What to know about anesthesia.Wukich DK.Diabetes and its negative impact on outcomes in orthopaedic surgery.World J Orthop. 2015;6(3):331-339. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i3.331Nason KS.Acute Intraoperative Pulmonary Aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301-307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.11 Things to Do Before Surgery.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abate SM, Chekole YA, Minaye SY, Basu B.Global prevalence and reasons for case cancellation on the intended day of surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;26:55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ijso.2020.08.006Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Wendel P.Can You Have Surgery With a Cold?Hospital for Special Surgery.Lin CS, Chang CC, Yeh CC, Chung CL, Chen TL, Liao CC.Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(3):e2548. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002548Ntima NO, Lumb AB.Pulmonary function tests in anaesthetic practice.BJA Education. 2019;19(7):206-211. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2019.02.001Wendel P.Why do anesthesiologists care about a common cold? Hospital for Special Surgery.University of Maryland Medical Center.Pre-surgery checklist.American Society of Anesthesiologists.COVID-19 and Elective Surgery.Fayed A, Elkouny A, Zoughaibi N, Wahabi HA.Elective surgery cancelation on day of surgery: An endless dilemma.Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia. 2016;10(1):68. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.169479UCLA Children’s Hospital.What to know about anesthesia.Wukich DK.Diabetes and its negative impact on outcomes in orthopaedic surgery.World J Orthop. 2015;6(3):331-339. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i3.331Nason KS.Acute Intraoperative Pulmonary Aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301-307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.11 Things to Do Before Surgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Abate SM, Chekole YA, Minaye SY, Basu B.Global prevalence and reasons for case cancellation on the intended day of surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;26:55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ijso.2020.08.006Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Wendel P.Can You Have Surgery With a Cold?Hospital for Special Surgery.Lin CS, Chang CC, Yeh CC, Chung CL, Chen TL, Liao CC.Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(3):e2548. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002548Ntima NO, Lumb AB.Pulmonary function tests in anaesthetic practice.BJA Education. 2019;19(7):206-211. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2019.02.001Wendel P.Why do anesthesiologists care about a common cold? Hospital for Special Surgery.University of Maryland Medical Center.Pre-surgery checklist.American Society of Anesthesiologists.COVID-19 and Elective Surgery.Fayed A, Elkouny A, Zoughaibi N, Wahabi HA.Elective surgery cancelation on day of surgery: An endless dilemma.Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia. 2016;10(1):68. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.169479UCLA Children’s Hospital.What to know about anesthesia.Wukich DK.Diabetes and its negative impact on outcomes in orthopaedic surgery.World J Orthop. 2015;6(3):331-339. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i3.331Nason KS.Acute Intraoperative Pulmonary Aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301-307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.11 Things to Do Before Surgery.
Abate SM, Chekole YA, Minaye SY, Basu B.Global prevalence and reasons for case cancellation on the intended day of surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;26:55-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ijso.2020.08.006
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.
Wendel P.Can You Have Surgery With a Cold?Hospital for Special Surgery.
Lin CS, Chang CC, Yeh CC, Chung CL, Chen TL, Liao CC.Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(3):e2548. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002548
Ntima NO, Lumb AB.Pulmonary function tests in anaesthetic practice.BJA Education. 2019;19(7):206-211. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2019.02.001
Wendel P.Why do anesthesiologists care about a common cold? Hospital for Special Surgery.
University of Maryland Medical Center.Pre-surgery checklist.
American Society of Anesthesiologists.COVID-19 and Elective Surgery.
Fayed A, Elkouny A, Zoughaibi N, Wahabi HA.Elective surgery cancelation on day of surgery: An endless dilemma.Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia. 2016;10(1):68. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.169479
UCLA Children’s Hospital.What to know about anesthesia.
Wukich DK.Diabetes and its negative impact on outcomes in orthopaedic surgery.World J Orthop. 2015;6(3):331-339. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i3.331
Nason KS.Acute Intraoperative Pulmonary Aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301-307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.11 Things to Do Before Surgery.
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