Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Mater Private Hospital Brisbane

The largest of Mater Health Services’ private facilities, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane is a flagship for the level of care and facilities our organisation strives to provide.

The tertiary, acute facility is built on a foundation of clinical excellence and a commitment to safe, compassionate care, that is: quality focused technologically advanced customised to patients’ needs and lifestyle.

Mater Private Hospital Brisbane is an outstanding health care provider with a total of 323 patient beds, ten operating theatres, a 24-hour private emergency service, preadmission clinic, Cardiovascular Unit, Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units, Breast Cancer Centre and Day Procedure Unit.

All rooms and facilities are designed to offer comfort and privacy, complete with a range of modern, air-conditioned accommodation. While in hospital, patients also have access to allied health (e.g. dietitians, physiotherapists), pharmacy, hairdressing and chaplaincy services.

For further information about Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, please call 07 3163 1111.

Visiting hours

8 am to 8 pm (patient rest period 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm)

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

At Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, we acknowledge that having an operation can be a very stressful experience. In keeping with our Mission to offer compassionate, quality care that promotes dignity whilst responding to patients’ needs, this booklet aims to alleviate some of your concerns. It explains the general day to day events that may occur during your visit and the things to expect when you are discharged from hospital.

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

If you have any questions about your treatment please speak to your doctor or nurse.

Our pastoral care team also offers a caring support network to all patients. The dedicated members of this team are available at your request.

Our expectations

We expect that you will stay in hospital overnight or until you have achieved the following: your pain will be controlled with oral analgesia

• your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure are to be within normal limits
• you will be tolerating your normal fluids and diet
• you will be independently mobile, attending to your daily needs
• you will not have any unexpected bleeding or swelling.

Preadmission clinic

Mater Private Hospital Brisbane provides a preadmission service. You will receive this service in any of the following ways:

• from the specialty clinic to the preadmission clinic
• at the preadmission clinic
• via a phone call.

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

Day of admission/surgery

Before coming to hospital please ensure that you have:

• had nothing to eat or drink as per the instructions given to you by the preadmission clinic or your doctor
• showered and dressed in clean clothes. No skin products are to be used following your shower (e.g. deodorant, perfume, body lotion, powder, make up)
• left your valuables at home. You may wear your wedding band only.
• brought the following with you:
  • your x-rays
  • your operation consent form
  • your medications in their labelled containers or packets.

On your arrival to the hospital please report to the reception desk on level 6, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane where you will be directed to the Welcome Lounge/ Day Procedure Unit. Only one relative/visitor is permitted within the clinical areas of the Welcome Lounge.

Our Welcome Lounge staff will:

• apply an identification band
• complete your nursing assessment form
• take your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and weight
• ask you to change into a theatre gown and paper pants
• apply anti-embolic stockings. These assist with blood flow through your legs and decrease the risk of blood clot formation while you have decreased mobility
• take details of any family member who would like to speak to the surgeon after the operation (preferably a mobile phone number)
• complete your preoperative checklist.

You may walk around as much as you like, but please do not leave the Welcome Lounge. Your surgeon may visit with you prior to your surgery, either in the Welcome Lounge/Day Unit or in the preoperative holding area.

You will be transferred to the operating theatre on a wheelchair or on your bed if you have received a premedication. Your luggage will be delivered to the ward where it will be stored in a locked room until after you have returned from theatre.

After your surgery

• Immediately following your surgery you will be transferred to the recovery room where you will be observed closely until you are more awake.
• It is common to need oxygen which will be given via a face mask.
• When you have recovered sufficiently from the anaesthetic you will be returned to your room in the postoperative ward. The nurses will take vital signs—your pulse, respiration rate, temperature, blood pressure and observe for bleeding and swelling.
• Your doctor will order pain relief and anti-nausea medications for you. Please tell your nurse if you have any pain or nausea, so these symptoms can be managed.
• Immediately following your surgery, you will be resting in bed with your head elevated. When you feel well enough you will be assisted to get out of bed.
• Following your operation you will be offered ice to suck or water to sip. After a few hours you can begin to drink fluids as you are able, and then progress to normal diet as tolerated. Intravenous fluids (a drip) will be administered until you are able to eat and drink.
• When you are feeling more awake your nurse will assist you to have a wash and change into your own bed clothes.
• It is important that you begin your breathing and leg exercises. These help prevent complications such as chest infections and blood clots in your legs and should be carried out every hour that you are awake and while on bed rest.

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.

Day of discharge/what to expect when you go home

• Discharge time is 10 am.
• A discharge summary form and any follow up appointments will be discussed and provided.
• Your own medications will be returned to you and any new ones supplied.
• Your X-rays will be returned to you. Please remember to ask for them.
• Your vital signs and wounds will be checked before you are discharged.
• Continue to perform deep breathing, coughing and leg exercises while you are resting in bed.
• You will be independent with showering and walking. You may walk as much as you like, short frequent walks are a great way to start. Postoperative lethargy is normal and often lasts for a month or more. Avoid excessive activity and heavy lifting.
• You may have food and fluids as desired but should avoid fatty foods.
• You may experience some pain from your wounds. Shoulder tip pain may also occur for two to three days. This can be relieved by taking oral analgesia which will be supplied on discharge.
• If your drain was not removed yesterday, it will be removed today before you are discharged.
• The wounds may look slightly reddened and raised. Dressings over port sites/wounds should be left intact for 48 hours and then they can be removed and left uncovered. Wash your wounds in the shower and pat dry with a towel. Leave steri-strips in situ for five to seven days, as directed.

Report any complications to your surgeon, GP or Emergency department:

• fevers
• pain that is not relieved by analgesia
• discharge from wound sites
• nausea and vomiting which does not settle
• other unexplained symptoms or you have questions that cannot wait until your post-operative visit.

© 2014 Mater Misericordiae Ltd. ACN 096 708 922

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