Pre-Operative Instructions
At Strathpine Surgical we will try to deal with your medical problem at the time of attendance. This means that if you have an issue that can be treated using local or regional anaesthetic we will aim to treat this during your initial attendance. There is no need for any special preparation for these procedures other than ensuring that you are not taking any blood thinning agents.
Where you are taking such medication we will need to know at the time of booking. Blood thinning medications are primarily aspirin, warfarin and a range of platelet inhibitors. Where these medications are used to treat specific conditions it is not always possible to stop them straight away without checking the condition for which they were prescribed. In situations where they are taken as a precaution then it is often possible to stop them without problems. In addition there are a range of herbal medications and widely used products such as fish oil and krill oil that thins the blood and would be best stopped before any procedure is undertaken. When making your appointment please inform us if you are taking blood thinning medication so that we can advise you properly as to the right way to proceed.
Some procedures require more time to perform. If there is a more complex issue that need treating then usually arrangements will be made for you to return at a later time to have the treatment.
Post-Surgical Care
Following any surgical procedure some care is required for the wound or affected area to minimize the risk of problems and to maximize the chance for the wound to settle quickly and allow a return to normal activity.
Post-Surgery Care involves appropriate pain relief medication, changing of dressings and wound care protocols as well as rest and care of special treated areas, such as the arm or leg. Full instructions covering these aspects will be provided at the time of procedure with arrangements made for follow-up after your surgery to encourage full recovery as quickly as possible.
Generally surgical wounds need to be kept clean and dry. Occasionally special wound protective measures are used and you will be advised as to the specific requirements of wound care for your condition.
Resting the affected part is a surgical maxim which tells you that the wound needs special consideration to be allowed to settle as quickly as possible with as little discomfort as possible and quick return to normal activity. So for instance if there was a skin lesion removed from your arm, it would not be a good idea to go and play golf the next day. Resting the affected part will allow for a quicker recovery and get you back to your golf game quicker than trying to do too much too quickly.
No surgical procedure is immune from possible problems and so instructions for things to watch out for will be provided. No one wants to have a problem following surgery, but occasionally despite the best of care things don’t go according to plan. Fortunately such outcomes are not frequent, but if you should find that there is a problem and that you need assistance, we make it easy for you to get that assistance. If you need to talk to someone to get advice please ring our office during office hours, or after hours please ring your General Practitioner or if the situation is urgent or acute please proceed directly to your nearest hospital Emergency Department for assessment. Arrangements for follow-up visits are made at the time of attendance.