HOW TO PREPARE FOR SURGERY

Our Practice Manager will discuss everything in detail prior to your surgery. This will include:

Admission papers:

Dr Cook performs surgery at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.

You will be directed to a website to complete the e-admission form.

Diet:

It will be necessary to fast from 8 hours prior to your procedure.

If you having a laparoscopy, we recommend a special diet on the day prior to the procedure. This includes clear fluids (clear soup, jelly, black tea, fruit juices). It is recommended that you do not consume solids or milk products on this day.

You will be advised to take a light bowel prep – one sachet of picolax at 4pm on the day prior to surgery. You will have loose bowels motions after about 5 hours. You will need to drink adequate water during this time to avoid dehydration.

Medications:

Take your medications as usual on the morning of the surgery with a sip of water.

You will need to stop all aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications (eg nurofen, ponstan) at least 7 days prior to the surgery. These medications can cause bleeding.

If you take warfarin, Dr Cook will organise a review by a haematologist to organise discontinuing this medication and commencing an alternate medication around the time of the operation.

If you take regular steroid medication, Dr Cook will organise a review with the anaesthetist to increase the dose around the time of the operation. This will be in conjunction with your usual prescribing doctor.

Time of Admission:

You will be contacted on the day prior to the surgery by our Practice Manager to notify you of the time to arrive at Prince of Wales Hospital. This is usually about 2 hours prior to your operation. Some women will require an earlier admission.

Diabetics will be earlier on the list.

If you require an earlier admission, please notify us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Day Stay Procedures:

This means that you will have your surgery and go home on the same day. You will see Dr Cook and the anaesthetist prior to your surgery. You will be admitted through the Prince of Wales Hospital Day Procedure Unit (Level 5). The enquiries desk is on the Ground Floor. You will be discharged with specific instructions regarding your type of surgery. Dr Cook will ensure that you have any necessary medications to take home. Dr Cook will contact you on the following day to talk briefly about the surgery and ensure that you are progressing well. A follow up appointment will have been arranged prior to the surgery by Monash IVF.

Longer Stay in Hospital:

This will be required for longer procedures including Hysterectomy, Pelvic Floor Repair, complex Endometriosis surgery and Myomectomy. You will either be admitted through the Prince of Wales Hospital Day Procedure Unit (Level 5) or through the Gynaecology Ward (Level 6). The enquiries desk is on the Ground Floor.

When your operation is complete, you will go to Recovery. From there you will be taken up to the Gynaecology Ward. Dr Cook will review you the following day in the hospital.

The nursing staff at Prince of Wales Hospital will make your stay as comfortable as possible. They will attend to any special dietary requirements or other requests.

You will be discharged with instructions regarding your type of surgery. Dr Cook will ensure that you have any necessary medications to take home. A follow up appointment will have been arranged prior to the surgery by Monash IVF.