Your Appointment

Thank you for choosing Northfield Surgical Center. To schedule or cancel a procedure, please call (973) 542-2470 or your physician’s office.

Prior to your arrival

To help ensure an error-free procedure, the following steps should be taken prior to your arrival here at Northfield Surgical Center:

• Follow your doctor’s specific diet instructions.
• Get plenty of rest before the procedure.
• Plan on arriving to the Northfield Surgical Center one hour before your procedure.
• Please bring your insurance card and your ID with a current address.

Special Instructions

COLONOSCOPY preparation using Fleet Kit #3

1. Stop all vitamins, oral iron-containing medications, aspirin, Advil and blood thinners one week prior to the procedure. However, you may take regular Tylenol only if needed. On the day of your procedure, do not take insulin, but bring it with you to take following the procedure.
2. Purchase Fleet Kit #3 over-the-counter at your pharmacy and read the directions at least 48 hours in advance of your procedure. Follow the directions in the kit for the 24 hour prep starting the day before your procedure when you wake up in the morning.
3. Up until 6 hours before your colonoscopy, you may have clear liquids only!

GASTROSCOPY (Upper ENDOSCOPY)

1. Stop aspirin and blood thinners one week prior to procedure. However, you may take regular Tylenol only if needed. On the day of your procedure, do not take insulin, but bring it with you to take following the procedure.
2. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your gastroscopy unless instructed differently by your doctor.

When you arrive

• When you arrive you will be registered at the front desk.
• You will go to the Endoscopy Suite.
• You will put on a patient gown.
• Your belongings will be secured.
• A Registered Nurse will perform an admission assessment. The RN will ask you about your medical history.
• You will have a chance to ask questions.
• An intravenous line will be started so that the doctor can administer medications to keep you comfortable and calm.
• After your procedure, you will be observed until you feel well enough to go home.
• You will speak with your doctor.
• You will get a light snack and beverage.
• You will be given discharge instructions.
• You will be discharged when your escort is present to drive you home.
• You will receive a follow-up phone call regarding your experience at the center.
• You will receive intravenous sedation for the gastroscopy and/or colonoscopy, so you must arrange for transportation home. You will not be permitted to drive for the remainder of the day.

When you return home

• Do not drive a car or operate machinery for 24 hours or sign contracts.
• Eat and drink normally unless instructed otherwise.
• If a polyp has been removed, then do not take aspirin (or any other medications or herbal products that thin blood) until you receive permission from your medical doctor.

Call your physician if you develop any of these symptoms:

• Moderate abdominal pain/swelling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Chills or fever within 24 hours
• Large amount of rectal bleeding
• Pain in the chest/shortness of breath
• If the problems are severe, then go the nearest emergency department and notify your doctor