If surgery is planned following your consultation with Dr. Nagubandi, you will be provided with paperwork detailing the name of the procedure and the anticipated MBS Item numbers. It is highly recommended that you contact your health fund and quote the item numbers provided to ensure that you have adequate cover for the anticipated procedure. While the clinic can verify your private health insurance number, we do not have access to your level of cover. As such, we are unable to provide this information for you. In the event that you are not adequately covered for a procedure, please contact the clinic on (08) 9332 1852 or send an email to info@drpreethi.com.au so that our team can outline the next steps.
Prior to surgery, the paperwork provided by Dr. Nagubandi’s rooms will need to be completed and returned as soon as possible. Any relevant fees will also need to paid two weeks prior to surgery.
The anaesthetist for your procedure works independently to Dr. Nagubandi. Their contact details will be provided to you however Dr. Nagubandi’s team will forward your details to their practice. You should expect a questionnaire and paperwork for completion, and any relevant invoices to be sent to you directly from their practice. The anaesthetist may also call you prior to the procedure. If you have not heard from them 1-2 weeks prior to the procedure, we recommend that you contact them.
The hospital will also require admission paperwork to be completed. This will differ depending on which hospital you are having your procedure at. The hospital may on occasion contact you for a pre-admission appointment. This may be on the phone or face to face.
After having a general or local anaesthetic or sedation you should not drive a motor vehicle or operate any machinery for a minimum of 24 hours after your surgery or procedure. Therefore, you will need to organise for someone to take you home from hospital and someone needs to stay with you overnight ideally for a few nights. Dr. Nagubandi does not recommend a taxi or Uber.
If you do not have someone organised to take you home and stay with you overnight, your procedure will likely be cancelled. Please note that if your procedure was planned for a day procedure, your health fund will not cover a night in hospital for transport or social reasons (they will likely only cover a stay on medical grounds).
You should take your regular medications with a sip of water even on the day of surgery unless otherwise specified.
Dr. Nagubandi will record your regular medications at the time of your consultation and provide specific instructions for medication use around surgery where relevant. If there has been a delay between your consultation and surgery, it is important to inform Dr. Nagubandi’s clinic regarding any medication changes especially if you have been commenced on Ozempic, Wegovy, empagliflozin or any blood thinners as continuation of these medications may on occasion result in cancellation of your surgery to minimise risks to you.
It is recommended that you shower on the day of your surgery and avoid shaving near the operative field, as any small cuts can become infected. Hair may be trimmed by the pre-operative nursing team or the surgical team, though this is rarely required.
Dr. Nagubandi does not recommend any pre-operative surgical washes as these can be harsh on the skin.
Make up is also best avoided on the day of surgery.
If you wear contact lenses, these will need to be removed prior to surgery so you will need to bring your solution, contacts case and glasses. It is ideal to wear glasses on the day of surgery instead of contact lenses.
It is important to remove all jewellery and piercings prior to surgery and leave these at home as these can interfere with the sterility of the procedure and/or surgical approach. Additionally, the hospital does not take responsibility for loss or damage of any personal items. Please contact the clinic in advance if you are having difficulty removing jewellery and/or piercings.
All nail polish and/or false nails should also be removed, as equipment needs to be placed on fingers and/or toes to allow for heart rate and oxygen saturation monitoring during surgery.
Hair extensions, especially those with metal clips, and elastics with metal clips should also be avoided.
Please bring your personal items in a small bag as there is limited storage space for each patient. Items that you will likely require on the day include:
- Your Medicare card and concession cards such as the Safety Net Card and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Card
- Your health fund details
- Name and address of your General Practitioner
- Emergency contact details of your next of kin
- Any current medications you are taking, including natural remedies and supplements in their original packets
- A list of allergies to food, medications, latex, dyes and dressings
- Pyjamas or nightgowns, dressing gown and slippers (non-slip sole)
- Personal toiletries including pads
- Contact solution, contacts case and glasses
- A small amount of money for items such as newspapers and magazines
- A book or reading material (to keep you occupied while you await surgery)
If your surgery is scheduled at either SJOG Murdoch in the main hospital or in the Surgicentre, details regarding parking are outlined on the following webpage:
SJOG Murdoch Parking Information
If your surgery is scheduled at South Perth hospital, details regarding parking are outlined on the following webpage:
It is highly likely that you will be admitted on the day of your surgery.
When you arrive to hospital and check in, the admission staff will ensure that all necessary admission requirements are complete and your consent paperwork will be check. A patient identification band will be placed on your wrist and/or ankle.
You may be asked to wait in the patient lounge, on a bed or in a pre-operative area prior to your surgery. The nursing staff will complete a set of observations and administer any pre-operative medications as appropriate.
After your surgery, the nursing staff will monitor you in the recovery area and perform regular observations.
Once you are awake, your nurse will inform you when it is safe to get out of bed and eat and drink.
If you are planned for a day surgery procedure, the staff will contact your nominated person to arrange for them to collect you. Dr. Nagubandi endeavours to see all day surgery patients before they leave the hospital though on occasion, this is not possible. You will however receive an information sheet detailing any instructions, what precautions to take and what symptoms to expect in the days/weeks following surgery.
If it has been planned for you to stay overnight, you will be transferred to the ward for ongoing care.
If you have had a day surgery procedure such as a hysteroscopy, you cannot drive for at least 24 hours after the general anaesthetic.
If you have had laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, you should not drive for at least 1-2 weeks.
If you have required a laparotomy (an open) surgery, you should not drive for at least 4 weeks.
If you are still using pain killers and/or pain may affect your ability to drive or react quickly on the road, you should wait additional time before returning to driving.
Additionally, it is always best to liaise with your car insurance company regarding their policies.
If you have had a day surgery procedure such as a hysteroscopy with no wounds on your abdomen, you should be able to resume normal exercise activity 48 hours after the surgery.
If you have had more extensive surgery, you should aim to commence light walking on a flat within a week of surgery. You can gradually increase the level of exercise depending on your pain levels. If you have undergone laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, this will likely be two weeks after surgery and if you have required a laparotomy (an open) surgery, this will likely be 4 weeks after surgery. It is best to avoid exercises involving squatting, heavy lifting and bending for 6 weeks. It is also important to avoid carrying washing baskets, heavy shopping and vacuuming around the house for this time. If at any point, your exercise regimen is increasing your pain levels, it is best to stop.
If you are having surgery for prolapse, it is best to restart your pelvic floor exercises within the first few days after surgery.
Depending on the type of procedure you have had and the complexity, the time frame that Dr. Nagubandi will need to be able to care for you after surgery will typically vary between two and six weeks. This may involve attending for reviews in person to allow for any necessary examinations. Dr. Nagubandi will not be able to provide advice over the phone or via email if you are traveling, especially if you are overseas, due to the rules of Medicare and varying regulations across states.
If you have travel plans following your surgery, it is important to inform Dr. Nagubandi at the time of your consultation or the clinic as soon as you are aware of them. Your procedure may be postponed/cancelled depending on the nature of the planned procedure and your plans.
All patients will have a telephone consultation scheduled two to three weeks after surgery, as this will allow for any pathology results to be processed prior.
At the time of this appointment, Dr. Nagubandi will discuss:
- Your progress
- The details and findings of the surgery
- All new results
- The plan moving forward
The details of this appointment will be included on your admission paperwork. If you are travelling interstate or overseas at the time, Dr. Nagubandi will not be able to complete the consultation due to Medicare rules and varying regulations between states.
On occasion, your appointment may be changed to a face to face appointment and you will be advised of this in advance.
If your surgery is scheduled at either SJOG Murdoch in the main hospital or in the Surgicentre, further relevant information can be found using the links below:
Overnight Patients Information
If your surgery is scheduled at South Perth Hospital, further relevant information can be found using the links below: