For Patients
Planning For Surgery
Planning & Preparation for Surgery
- Fill out your admission paperwork or online e-admission
- Familiarise yourself with your fasting time and admission time
- Please ensure that you have made all out of pocket payments.
- If you are on blood thinners such as Aspirin, Plavix, Co-Plavix, Xarelto, Warfarin, pleasure ensure that Professor Psaltis is aware, as most of these medications must be also stopped days prior to surgery unless directed otherwise
- Stop all other medications that may increase the risk of bleeding including
- all anti-inflammatory medications including Aspirin Nurofen, Advil
- all over-the-counter vitamins including Fish Oil, Krill Oil, Omega 3, Garlic, Ginger, Ginseng, Gingko Biloba, Echinacea, St John’s Wart, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Nasal decongestants
- Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before surgery
- Pack an overnight bag with pyjamas, slippers, toiletries, phone and charger
- Note your fasting and admission time
- When fasting avoid all liquids including water, food and chewing gum. If you are on morning medications, you can take them on the morning of surgery with a very small sip of water
- Arrive at the hospital at the organized admission time. You may be asked to fill in some additional paper work
- Bring all relevant CT and MRI scans with you
- Bring any relevant paperwork for the hospital ( e.g a consent, admission forms if not completed online)
- Day Procedures – usually 4- 6hours after your procedure
- Overnight Procedures - Professor Psaltis will review you the morning after your surgery between 6-7am. Once he has reviewed you, you can shower. The nurses will go through your discharge medication and discharge time will usually be around 10am. Make sure someone picks you up from the hospital. You must not drive, work or use any heavy or dangerous machinery for the first 48 hours following general anaesthesia or whist using opiate medication
- Sick Certificates – if required, please contact our rooms on 8410 6611 or [email protected]
Prior to surgery, our staff will send you all the information you need to know including fasting time, admission time, hospital details and anaesthetist’s details.
How To Prepare for Surgery
Professor Psaltis operates at Calvary Adelaide , and Memorial Hospitals
Each hospital will require that you complete either a written or online admission form. This will be given to you by Professor Psaltis’ staff prior to your surgical date.
Before general anaesthetic you will be required to FAST from all foods and liquids including water for 6 hours. Chewing gum must also be avoided. You can have your normal morning medications with a sip of water only.
- If you are on blood thinning medications please advise Professor Psaltis so a plan for stopping them can be established prior to surgery. These include Aspirin, Warfarin, Clopidogrel, Plavix, Isocover, Pradaxa and Abixiban (Xarelto).
- NSAIDs medications 10 days prior to surgery must also be stopped including Ibuprofen, Advil, Nurofen, Voltaren, Celebrex, Mobic, Diclofenac.
- The following over the counter medications that can increase bleeding risk must also be stopped
- Fish Oil, Krill Oil, Omega 3,
- Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Echinacea, Goldenseal
- Garlic, Ginger, Ginko, Glucosamine
- Valerian, St Johns Wort, Kava
Unfortunately, health care funds do not typically cover the entire surgical fee, even with premium or “top-level” cover. You will be provided with a written quote that documents any out-of-pocket expenses related to your surgical procedure. This does not cover your hospital excess or your anaesthetic out-of-pocket expense. We recommend that you contact these parties for this information.
Please contact our rooms on 8410 6611 if you have any questions prior to surgery
Hospitals
The Memorial Hospital
ENT Anaesthetists
Professor Psaltis uses 2 highly trained specialist ENT anaesthetists from Wakefield Anaesthetics Group and STACE Anaesthetics Group. Our rooms will inform you of whom your anaesthetist will be once the date for your surgery has been finalized. Please contact their rooms directly if you have any questions regarding the anaesthetic or their out of pocket expense.