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Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Mater Private Hospital Springfield

Mater Health Services has a strong history, providing exceptional care to the Queensland community for more than 100 years. This tradition of care has been continued with the establishment of Mater Private Hospital Springfield.

Mater Private Hospital Springfield is an innovative, unique and contemporary hospital with a total of 80 beds, four digitally integrated operating theatres, a day surgery unit and a state-of-the-art cancer care centre featuring a linear accelerator and 15 medical oncology treatment bays.

Mater Private Hospital Springfield also offers a range of medical and surgical services including: General Medicine; Medical Oncology; Rehabilitation; Respiratory; Ear, Nose and Throat; Gastroenterology; General Surgery; Gynaecology; Ophthalmology; Oral and Maxillofacial; Orthopaedics; Plastics and Urology.

All rooms and facilities are equipped with the latest technology and have been designed with the family in mind, with a fold out bed in each room so family and friends can stay overnight. Integrated room controls allow patients to control temperature, blinds and lighting for optimal comfort.

Mater is committed to caring for the Greater Springfield community and as it continues to grow our services will grow with it.

For more information about Mater Private Hospital Springfield, please call 07 3098 3900.

Visiting hours

Mater Private Hospital Springfield is committed to providing family centred care and has no set visiting hours.

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 Springfield, 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 service

You should expect to be contacted approximately 48 to 72 hours before your planned admission by one of our hospital administration team who will confirm your personal details and provide you with an estimate of any excess or hospital expenses not covered by your private health insurance.

Additionally one of our preadmission team will contact you to talk about your procedure and complete a nursing assessment and health history interview. This allows you to ask any questions about your upcoming hospital stay and for our staff to ensure we have all relevant details required.

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 check in with our friendly front reception staff in the main foyer on level 2 of the hospital. When you check in staff will confirm your details, assist you to complete any required paperwork and direct you to the appropriate patient care area.

Our Nursing 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 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.

Circulation exercisesBreathing 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.

© 2015 Mater Misericordiae Ltd. ACN 096 708 922

Mater acknowledges consumer consultation in the development of this patient information.
Mater Doc Num: PI-CLN-420024
Last modified 25/9/2019.
Consumers were consulted in the development of this patient information.
Last consumer engagement date: 23/7/2015
For further translated health information, you can visit healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/ supported by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services that offers a range of patient information in multiple languages.
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Mercy. Dignity. Care. Commitment. Quality