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Varicose veins

Welcome

At Mater Health Services we understand that being in hospital can be a very stressful experience. This booklet aims to alleviate some of your concerns in keeping with our Mission to offer compassionate, quality care that promotes dignity while responding to patients’ needs. It explains briefly the events that may occur during your visit and the things to expect when you are discharged from the hospital.

It is, however, only a guideline as each person may require differing treatments.

If you have any questions about your treatment please ask your doctor or nurse. Our pastoral care team offers a caring support network to all patients. The dedicated embers of this team will visit you during your stay and are available at your request to discuss any anxieties or problems that you may have.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged and twisted. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs and feet. That’s because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins in your lower body.

For many people, varicose veins and spider veins—a common, mild and medically insignificant variation of varicose veins—are simply a cosmetic concern. For other people, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Sometimes the condition leads to more serious problems. Varicose veins may also signal a higher risk of other disorders of the circulatory system.

Expected length of hospital stay

The day following your surgery you will be transferred anytime from 7 am to the Transit Lounge then discharged at the pre-arranged time.

Our expectations

Prior to discharge

  • you will have minimal wound ooze
  • your pain will be well controlled
  • you will tolerate diet and fluids
  • you will be able to mobilise freely.

Pre-admission clinic

MAH provides a pre-admission service. You will have received this service in any of the following ways:

  • from the specialty clinic to the pre-admission clinic
  • at the pre-admission clinic
  • over the phone.

The pre-admission service gathers information, initiates investigations to prepare you for your surgery, provides information regarding your specific operation and identifies discharge needs.

Things to do before you come to hospital

  • It is important for you to have completed all the tests which your doctor has ordered prior to coming to hospital. Please bring X-rays, any ECG reports and all your blood test results with you to hospital along with your medications. Your medications need to be in their labelled containers or Webster pack.
  • If you have are taking any blood thinning or arthritis medications please follow instructions provided by your pre-admission nurse or pharmacist. Sometimes it is important that these medications be stopped in preparation for your surgery.
  • It is necessary that you have nothing to eat or drink (including water, lollies and chewing gum) at least six hours before your operation. Please follow instructions provided by your doctor or pre-admission nurse.
  • It is important for you to shower and dress into clean clothes prior to coming into hospital. No skin products such as deodorant, perfume, body lotion, powders are to be used following your shower.
  • Mater Adult Hospital is unable to accept liability for losses. It is highly recommended that you leave your valuables at home for safety and security purposes. Please bring essential items only. While Mater does not take responsibility for your personal belongings our Security Office will hold any lost property that is handed in.
  • Read this booklet and have it ready to bring with you to hospital.

The day of your operation

Before your operation

  • When you come to hospital proceed to the Day Procedure Unit, on level 5 at Mater Adult Hospital, where you will be admitted and prepared for surgery. At different times throughout your hospital stay and as a safety requirement, staff will request confirmation of your name, DOB, allergies and procedure.
  • The assessment form completed at the pre-admission service will be reviewed and your health team will plan for your individualised care while in hospital and any support you may require after discharge. Your nurse will also check that your consent form has been signed or organised to be signed before your operation.
  • Your nurse will discuss with you any concerns that you may have about your surgery and needs that you may have when you are discharged.
  • It is an Infection Control requirement at Mater that you will be required to have swabs taken if you have transferred from, or worked at another health care facility, or you have had previous resistant infections. This is usually identified and attended at the pre-admission clinic. Your admission nurse will check if these three swabs have been taken and will complete the test if there are further swabs required.
  • The medications you brought to hospital will be collected. These will be returned to you when you leave the hospital. Please inform the nurse admitting you if you have been taking any blood thinning or arthritis medications prior to your admission, as these may have needed to be stopped before your operation day. It is usual for you to continue taking your other prescribed medications.
  • You may walk as much as you like. Please notify staff if you leave the ward.
  • You will have an identification armband applied. This will stay on for the duration of your stay for identification and safety reasons. If you have any known allergies, you will have a red “allergy” armband applied for your safety.
  • Your nurse will take a set of baseline observations (temperature, pulse, blood pressure etc), weigh you and may ask you to provide a urine sample for routine testing.
  • Your groin and leg will need to be clipped prior to surgery to reduce infection.
  • You will be asked to dress into theatre clothing.
  • You may be prescribed a medication before you go to surgery.
  • Before you leave for theatre a pre-operative check list will be completed with you by your nurse. This check-list will be repeated in the operating reception area. Apart from your wedding band, no jewellery or metal is to be worn to theatre.
  • You will be escorted to the operating suite.
  • Your varicose veins are marked by the surgical team before you enter the operating theatre. Please indicate any special problem veins, or unanswered questions at this time.
  • It is important to practise your breathing and leg exercises which you will need to commence once you have woken up from your operation.

Breathing and circulation exercises

The following exercises help prevent complications such as chest infections and blood clots in your legs. You should do these every hour that you are awake while resting in bed.

Breathing Exercises: Take five long and slow deep breaths. Each breath should be deeper than the previous breath. Think about getting the air to the very bottom of your lungs.

Circulation exercises: Firmly move your ankles up and down to stretch and contract your calf muscles.

After your operation

  • You will stay in the recovery room within the theatre suite after the operation while you waken from the anaesthetic. You will be transferred on your bed to your room in the Day Procedure Unit.
  • Your nurse will take frequent observations of your vital signs (e.g. pulse) and dressings for several hours after the surgery. These will become less frequent as you recover but remain regular until you leave hospital.
  • Your legs will be bandaged from the toes to just below the groin. Your nurse will observe and monitor these bandages for wound ooze.
  • You will be resting in bed immediately after your surgery. When you are ready to get out of bed for the first time following your surgery it is important that you have assistance.
  • About four hours after you return to the ward, your nurse will assist you to have a wash.
  • You may have small amounts of water or ice to suck, then progress from fluids to a normal diet as tolerated.
  • If you have pain or nausea, please tell your nurse as there are medications which can be given to relieve this. It is important to be comfortable.
  • The drip (IV) is necessary to maintain your fluid intake. This will be removed when you are tolerating adequate amounts of oral fluids.

In preparation of going home

  • Your nurse will discuss your follow-up appointment and any discharge arrangements that have been made with you.
  • Discharge information will be given to you and your nurse will discuss this with you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
  • A full assessment will be made prior to transferring you to the Transit Lounge in preparation for discharge to ascertain your condition is safe for you to go home.
  • You will be transferred to the Transit Lounge anytime from 7 am on the morning following your surgery. This is where you will wait for your transportation home.

Those picking you up will find the Transit Lounge:

    • on the fourth floor of Mater Adult Hospital
    • just inside the ambulance entrance
    • opposite the waiting area for the Emergency Department.
  • It is still recommended to perform deep breathing, coughing and leg exercises while you are resting in bed.
  • You will recommence your normal medications.
  • Please tell the nursing staff if you have any pain so that they may give you medication to help relieve it.
  • Your dressings will stay intact until you see your doctor.

Discharge advice following varicose veins surgery

What to expect

  • You may have some pain in your legs, for which you can take simple pain relieving medications e.g. Paracetamol, no more than eight tablets within a 24 hour period.
  • Your leg or legs will be bandaged from the toes to just below the groin for a period of five days. After five days, you will come back to see the doctor or go to your GP and have your dressings and sutures removed. This may vary, depending on the consultant.
  • Some bruising is normal.
  • You have been advised to wear elastic support stockings. These should be worn during the next three weeks except when you have your shower and when you go to bed at night.

What to avoid

  • sitting with your knees bent—instead, sit with you legs elevated and flex your feet at regular intervals
  • sitting with your legs crossed at the knee
  • driving until after you have seen your doctor at your first follow-up appointment
  • lifting anything heavy for four weeks
  • pushing or dragging anything heavy for four weeks
  • wearing constrictive clothing on your legs eg. tights or garters.

What to do

  • take short frequent walks, increasing the distance gradually
  • keep the dressings dry.

Contacts

Please contact either your General Practitioner (GP); the Mater Adult Hospital Procedure Unit on 07 3163 8496; or the Mater Adult Hospital Emergency Department on telephone 07 3163 8111, IMMEDIATELY if you experience any of the following after your procedure:

  • increased pain unrelieved by simple pain relieving medications e.g. paracetamol
  • you develop a fever
  • you have a discharge or blood coming from your wounds, particularly in the groin
  • you have any other symptoms of infection. This may include excess redness around the wound site which is hot to touch.

Mater Adult Hospital

Mater Adult Hospital is one of Brisbane’s leading health facilities for non-insured patients. It is built on a foundation of clinical excellence and a commitment to safe, compassionate care, that is:

  • quality focussed
  • technologically advanced
  • customised to patients’ needs and lifestyles.

Mater Adult Hospital provides a wide range of surgical, medical and cancer services to noninsured patients. It features a 24-hour emergency department, intensive and coronary care units, day surgery, day oncology, day respite and busy medical, cancer and surgical units.

The hospital’s Division of Medicine offers specialist services in respiratory medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, cardiology, infectious diseases, dermatology, rheumatology, general surgery and medicine.

Modern facilities accommodate inpatients, outpatients, and day-only patients. General surgery is complemented by recognised surgical expertise in women’s health, orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, oral/faciomaxillary surgery, colorectal surgery, plastic surgery, ear/nose and throat surgery and dermatology.

While in hospital, patients also have access to a range of allied health practitioners (dietitians, physiotherapists, etc.), pharmacy, hairdressing, and chaplaincy services.

For more information about Mater Adult Hospital please telephone 07 3163 8111.

Our Mission

In the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, Mater Health Services offers compassionate service to the sick and needy, promotes an holistic approach to health care in response to changing community needs and fosters high standards in health-related education and research.

Following the example of Christ the healer, we commit ourselves to offering these services to all without discrimination.

Our Values

Mercy: the spirit of responding to one another
Dignity: the spirit of humanity, respecting the worth of each person
Care: the spirit of compassion
Commitment: the spirit of integrity
Quality: the spirit of professionalism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgments

Staff of Mater Adult Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Q 4101
Reference: Milliman CareGuidelines: Inpatient and Surgical Care/Ambulatory surgery/Home Care, 12th Edition, 2008 

Mater Adult Hospital

Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane Q 4101
Telephone: 07 3163 8111

© 2009 Mater Misericordiae Health Services Brisbane Limited. ACN 096 708 922.