Once a date for surgery has been booked, we will provide you with:
We encourage all patients to:
PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING ALL RELEVANT SCANS / X-RAYS WITH YOU TO HOSPITAL.
You can download a copy of this pre-operative care plan here.
To minimise the risk of problems during surgery or the recovery period, there are some simple things that you should be aware of:
SMOKING:Please do not smoke at least 4 weeks prior to surgery. Smoking increases risks of a general anaesthetic. It also affects wound healing and can predispose to bleeding, scar formation and infection. These risks are significantly higher with any airway surgery (surgery on the nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx).
If you need help to stop smoking, you can talk to your pharmacist or general practitioner. Information is available at www.quitnow.gov.au, www.quitsa.org.au, or you can contact the Quitline on 13 7848.
Please inform your surgeon if you have a known bleeding or clotting disorder.
The following medications increase the risk of bleeding and should be avoided prior to surgery. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of medications. Some cold remedies may also contain aspirin, so please consult your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Decongestants such as Drixine, Sinex or Otrivin nasal sprays, or oral Sudafed should not be used for prolonged periods of time. Such use can lead to rebound congestion and increased bleeding risk during and after surgery.
Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet function and should NOT be taken at least 10 days prior to surgery (Alka-Seltzer, Aspalgin, Aspro Clear, Codis, Disprin).
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (other than aspirin) should not be taken for 5 days prior to surgery. These include, but are not limited to:
These drugs have a mild inhibiting effect on platelet function. In many cases it can be detrimental to stop these medications abruptly, and you can safely continue their use leading up to surgery. However, please advise your surgeon if you are taking these:
The following herbal medications can increase bleeding risk and should be avoided at least 7 days before surgery:
The following supplements can also impact on blood clotting, and should be avoided for 7 days prior to surgery
It is important to fast before surgery, as during an anaesthetic, as muscles relax, stomach contents can reflux into the throat and be aspirated into the airway, causing serious complications.
No food or fluid (apart from water) for 6 hours before the operation – including chewing gum, lollies, sweets, and lozenges.
Water, up to 200 ml per hour, is allowable up to 2 hours before the operation.
No food for 6 hours before the operation – this includes milk, formula, thickened fluids, chewing gum, and lozenges.
Water is allowed up to 2 hours before the operation.
Breast milk is allowable up to 4 hours before the operation, as it is broken down faster than substitutes.
Some children may be prescribed thickener for fluids due to swallowing problems, to reduce the risk of aspiration of fluid into the windpipe. Any thickened fluid (including water) is considered “food”, as stomach emptying is delayed and the thickener has to be digested. Anything containing thickener needs to be withheld for 6 hours before the operation.
