If you need to call your surgeon about a symptom or problem, be sure that you remind him or her about your other conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases. You may be at risk for a more serious problem following surgery if you have any of the following.

Conditions

• Age older than 60
• History of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)
• History of bowel obstruction
• History of kidney failure
• History of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke
• Malnutrition
• Mobility problems that confine you to a bed or chair
• Obesity
• Presence of an indwelling catheter, such as a feeding tube, IV line, or urinary catheter
• Previous surgery to the surgical area
• Surgery to remove the spleen

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Smoking or other tobacco use

Medicines

• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Asthma
• Anemia
• Cancer
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema
• Chronic upper respiratory infections, such as chronic sinusitis, ear infections, or tonsillitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Depression or bipolar disorder
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
• Enlargement of the prostate gland (benign prostatic hypertrophy)
• Heart disease
• Hemophilia
• High blood pressure
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Kidney failure
• Leukemia
• Liver disease or cirrhosis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Stroke
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Von Willebrand's disease