PAGE CONTENT:

• The pre-operative booklet

• Why do I have to fast before the operation ?

• Can I smoke before the operation ?

• General anesthesia ( or local anesthesia) ?

Pre-operative booklet ("patient booklet")

Before an operation, a questionnaire has to be filled in to inform the anesthesia team correctly about your health condition. This questionnaire is handed over to you by Dr. Van Daele during the consultation in the form of a patient booklet.

The "blue" pages are for you to fill in yourself, the "red" pages are for the GP (who also does the necessary preoperative examinations). The middle pages are two documents that you have to sign to agree with the operation and with general anesthesia.

Why do I have to be sober for my operation ?

You have to be sober for your own safety. When you are under anesthetic, the muscles slacken. The oesophagus and stomach muscles also temporarily lose their tension. If there is food and/or drink in the stomach, it can flow back into the throat and down the windpipe. This can lead to very serious pneumonia or even suffocation.

Can I smoke before the operation?

You must not smoke from the day before the operation. It increases the risk of spasm of the lung ducts, with possible problems during anesthesia. 

Smokers have a scientifically proven increased risk of poorer healing after back surgery and have a higher chance of a recurring ('recurrence') disc herniations.

General anesthesia (or local anesthesia)?

The full-endoscopic procedures are done under general anesthesia.

This makes it comfortable and painless for the patient.

A PTED procedure may only be performed under local anesthetic (analgesia).

PTED procedure under general anesthesia increases the risk of complications.