Planning for Surgery

About Dr. Della Valle

Dr. Della Valle is a professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center. He is not only a busy surgeon (having performed more than 11,000 hip and knee replacements) but a respected leader in the field of hip and knee research. He travels extensively sharing his research and these experiences allow him exposure to the most up to date information to maximize patient quality of care.

More about Dr. Della Valle Dr. Della Valle's CV Schedule an Appointment

In preparation for surgery with Dr. Della Valle, it is important for you to make sure that all appointments and necessary tests are done to ensure that your surgery will not be delayed or cancelled.

Medical Clearance by Rush Internist

*Prior to all surgeries with Dr. Della Valle, you will be set up with an internal medicine specialist who has privileges at Rush. This will help to ensure that all necessary testing and blood work is done in time for your surgical procedure. Further, should you have a medical concern while you are in the hospital, a physician here at Rush will know you and you will know them. Please bring a list of medications, your insurance card(s) and photo I.D. to this visit. This physician can work with your own primary care doctor to optimize any medical problems that you may have. You CANNOT see your own doctor for medical clearance prior to surgery unless they have privileges to practice at Rush.

***If you see any other specialists (ie: cardiologist, hematologist, etc), please inform the nurses for further instructions.

Proof of Covid Vaccination

Rush Hospital and outpatient surgical centers where Dr. Della Valle operates require a copy of your covid vaccination card prior to surgery. Furthermore, Dr. Della Valle requires all patients must be vaccinated to have surgery with him. The profound effects on increased complications after surgery made this an easy decision and one urged in the orthopedic community. As always, we aim to preventatively protect all of our patients from any complications following surgery. The added benefit and protection is not only for our patients, but those staffed in the hospital, surgical centers, and other patients recovering from surgery.

Related Research

Blood Management

In Dr. Della Valle’s practice, blood donation is not recommended prior to surgery, as the risk of transfusion for most patients is very low. Dr. Della Valle uses medication and anesthetic techniques at the time of surgery that make the need for a blood transfusion very rare. If you have questions regarding blood management, please call our office.

Pre-Operative Authorization From Your Insurance Company

Please do not contact your insurance company for surgery authorization; our office and the hospital will do this for you.

Hydrating Protocol Prior to Surgery

Drinking enough fluids leading up to surgery has proven to be beneficial for recovery. We encourage our patients to increase their water intake 3 days prior to surgery. Dr. Della Valle asks that all patients drink one Gatorade (16.9 fl oz) 4 hours prior to their surgery time. We advise that you set an alarm to make sure you complete this hydration as most surgeries are early in the morning.

***If you have diabetes, please drink water in place of the Gatorade***

No coffee morning of surgery
No food after midnight
Any medications that you were told to take the morning of surgery should be taken at the same time of the Gatorade or water

Pre-operative Teaching Class

* All patients are required to attend a pre-operative teaching class taught by Dr. Della Valle’s nurses prior to surgery. These are held every other Monday. They are approximately 1 hour and begin promptly at 11:00 AM. These are now held virtually with Microsoft Teams. You will receive an email on the Friday prior to your scheduled class as well as the morning of the class from one of the nurses.

Click here for Microsoft Teams connection instructions.

Supplies We Recommend Purchasing Prior to Surgery

On the day of your pre-operative teaching class, please stop by our DME (Durable Medical Equipment) store on the 1^st floor of the Orthopaedic Building to pick up the necessary items for surgery. You will need:
Sage Chlorhexidine antibacterial wipe

Sage Chlorhexidine antibacterial wipes
- These should be applied to the skin the evening before and the morning of surgery
- These wipes decrease the amount of bacteria on the skin and reduce the risk of infection
Convatec Aquacel waterproof dressing
- Dr. Della Valle will apply one of these dressings to the incision in the operating room.
- This dressing is waterproof (so you can shower right after surgery) and antibacterial.
- Research suggests that it decreases the risks of wound related complications after surgery. (Read journal article abstract (PDF))
- The dressing placed in the operating room stays in place for one week. After that, it will need to be changed.
- We recommend that you purchase one of these dressings to cover the incision for the second week after surgery

The DME store assists our patients every day and is aware of the items any patient of Dr. Della Valle needs prior to surgery.

One week prior to surgery

*Patients are asked to stop all blood thinning medications such as aspirin, coumadin, plavix, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Indocin, Voltaren, Cataflan, Relafen, Mobic, vitamins and any herbal supplements.

You can continue to take: Tylenol, Celebrex, Ultracet and Tramadol.

*Instructions regarding any other medications that you are taking and not listed above, should be discussed at your preoperative medical clearance appointment.

The Night before surgery

You should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
Do NOT shave your legs before surgery. Your legs with be shaved at the facility the day of surgery.
The hospital will call you the day before your surgery with the time of arrival and where to go.
You should cleanse the skin over the area where the incision will be with the Sage Chlorhexidine wipes.

What to bring the day of surgery?

Bring a list of medications, your insurance card and a photo ID.
Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to the hospital as you will not be able to drive after surgery.
Bring a change of comfortable clothes to change into once you are discharged from the hospital.
Patients must arrive at the time they were instructed to avoid the cancellation of surgery.