Medications

Do not take any Asprin for at least one week before the operation, and one week after the operation as this may increase bleeding during or after surgery. There may be an exception to this if you have a significant risk of Cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or myocardial infarction (heart attack) Please notify me if you are on anti-clotting drugs and a plan has not been made.

Anti-Arthritis/Anti-Inflammatory tablets also have the same side effect, eg Voltaren, Brufen, Nurofen. If you need pain killers, it is fine to take Panadol or Panadeine.

You should refer to the information sheet "Medications guidelines prior to Surgery" for medication that you should stop taking 7 days prior to and after surgery. Please discuss this with me prior to surgery.

All other regular medications please continue to take up until the surgery date including the morning of the surgery. If you are unsure, please check with myself or your General Practitioner.

Smoking

Smoking is best avoided completely for four weeks before an operation. The less smoked, the fewer chest problems, so if stopping is a problem, try reducing the amount you smoke.

Paperwork

You will have been provided with an estimate of fees, an informed consent form outlining the risks associated with the operation, and in most instances a glossy information sheet about your procedure. Read the paperwork carefully. Sign the fee estimate as acceptance of the fee and payment terms. Sign the consent form and the sticky label on the glossy information sheet to indicate you understand what you have read. Remove the sticky label and place it on the consent form. These forms together with any necessary payment need to be returned to my office to secure your surgical booking two weeks prior to surgery.

Anaesthetist

You will be provided with the contact details of the anaesthetist prior to surgery. They will contact you to advise you of their estimate of fees, should this not happen or you have any questions regarding your anaesthetic, please feel free to contact them.

Hospital

You will have been given hospital admission forms, please complete these as soon as possible and return them to the hospital. There is also the option to complete the hospital admission for electronically. The hospital will be in contact with you sometime during the week before your surgery to finalise your booking. The hospital will charge you a bed fee, and an operating theatre fee, these fees are separate to my fee and the anaesthetist fee. You should contact the hospital to discuss their costs, especially if you have no private health insurance.

You may wish to confirm with your health insurance fund that they will pay for your hospital stay, especially if you have been insured less than 12 months.

There may also be a radiologist's fee or pathologist's fee, for blood tests, cardiographs, or biopsies and testing of specimens.

Next : One Week Prior to Surgery

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