Surgery

Bariatric (obesity) surgery is available at The Bays. Some of our general surgeons specialise in this surgery (sleeve gastrectomy).

Our breast surgeons are available for urgent referral and evaluation. They offer investigation, diagnosis and management of all benign and malignant breast conditions in men and women. We offer a full range of surgical services for benign conditions and breast cancer (symptomatic and screen detected) including sentinel node biopsy and mastectomy.

We use intraoperative imaging during surgery to confirm that all the cancerous tissue has been removed. This system is helpful in ensuring all lesions (which cannot be felt) are successfully removed. It provides reassurance and instant confirmation that a biopsy procedure has been successful.

We provide comprehensive care for our breast cancer patients with the ongoing support of a breast care nurse. Our breast care nurse works closely with your surgeon and medical oncologist and is available without referral for a private consultation. This nurse can refer you to a support group and is a source of helpful information and support for our breast cancer patients.

Contact our McGrath breast care nurse on 03 5975 298.

For more information about McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses visit

http://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/OurNurses/MeettheMcGrathBreastCareNurses.aspx

For our breast cancer patients, Chemotherapy is provided by medical oncologists and specialist nurses in our day infusion service located in the Coolart Ward.

Breast plastic and reconstructive surgery is also available including post cancer reconstruction and cosmetic augmentation and reduction surgery.

The Bays Hospital specialises in bowel cancer surgery and the treatment of other colorectal problems such as haemorrhoids, ischaemic colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Our colorectal surgeons perform surgery of the intestine, colon, rectum and anus, stomal surgery and colonoscopies to help with diagnosis and treatment of malignant tomours, inflammatory bowel disease and functional disorders. Sphincter surgery, anal reconstruction, laparoscopic colorectal surgery, surgery for advanced colorectal malignancy and complex pelvic surgery are also performed.

We have a stomal therapy nurse on-site for patient education and support before and after complex stomal surgery.

Many surgical procedures do not require an overnight stay in hospital. Our day surgery patients are admitted on the day of their surgery and can go home later the same day.

To plan for your day surgery, our pre-admission nursing staff will contact you with instructions about your admission to hospital and discuss your discharge planning. They will also confirm your admission time.

On arrival, you and your family will be given an estimated discharge time. Generally your day in hospital will be a few hours. But occasionally there are delays in our operating schedule, or you may require extra recovery time, which can affect our estimated discharge time estimates.

Day surgery is for:

• breast biopsy surgery
• ear, nose and throat surgery (otolaryngology)
• endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP)
• gynaecology
• ophthalmology
• general surgery
• orthopaedic surgery
• oral surgery
• pacemaker insertion
• plastic and reconstructive surgery
• urology

Our otolaryngology surgeons diagnose and manage conditions of the ear, nose and throat, head, neck and face including:

• ears – hearing loss, tumours, cosmetic disorders and balance problems
• nose – nasal obstruction, allergy, sinusitis and nasal deformities
• throat – difficulty with swallowing and speech, tumours and throat infections
• head and neck – parathyroid, thyroid and oesophageal tumours

We have the latest state of the art endoscopy equipment and our gastroenterologists perform colonoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopic procedures and ERCP here onsite at The Bays.

Our endoscopy patients have the benefit of continuity of care if the results reveal further investigation or surgery is required.

A colonoscopy examines the inside lining of the large bowel. A colonoscope is a thin flexible tube with a small camera and light attached to view the inside of the bowel. It is flexible enough to move through the colon.

A gastroscopy examines the inside lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract. A gastroscope is a small, flexible instrument passed through the mouth to view the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (small bowel).

Both these procedures are used for investigations and diagnosis and sometimes involve a biopsy or removal of tissue for testing.

Making a Direct Access Endoscopy (DAE) booking

Your GP will determine if you are suitable to be referred to our DAE service. Once they have completed the referral form sent it to us, we will contact you to book your procedure (with either your preferred specialist, or the next available specialist).

Your specialist will review your information and their staff will contact you with any instructions. You will meet with the specialist on the day of your admission to The Bays, unless they ask to see you before.

If your GP decides you are not suitable to be referred for DAE, they may still refer you to one of our specialists, however you will need to have a consultation with the specialist prior to making your hospital booking.

Our general surgeons perform both open and laparoscopic surgery at The Bays. Their services include breast surgery, colorectal surgery, surgery of the intestines (including the esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts) and hernia repair.

More information about breast surgery is listed above.

Our gynaecologists regularly perform open and laparoscopic surgery for variety of gynaecological conditions including investigation and diagnosis, benign gynaecological surgery, endometriosis, infertility, incontinence and gynaecological cancer.

Procedures include:

• advanced laparoscopic surgery
• hysterectomy
• laparoscopy
• cone biopsy
• dilation and curettage
• vulval surgery
• vaginal and ovarian surgery
• urodynamics and incontinence studies

In 2013 a survey of Medibank Private customers named us as the Highest Rated Maternity Hospital in Australia. Our obstetricians are very highly regarded and our maternity unit has the very latest equipment for surgical-assisted obstetric deliveries. We perform caesarian section deliveries for both elective bookings and urgent or unplanned emergencies. Our theatres are staffed 24-hours a day with obstetricians, experienced theatre staff and we have paediatricians on-call.

Our ophthalmologists offer eye surgery for:

• cataracts
• corneal grafts
• eyelid malposition (ptosis, ectropion, entropion)
• extraocular services
• functional and cosmetic blepharoplasty
• general ophthalmic disease
• glaucoma
• optic neuropathy (or optic nerve head swelling)
• peri-ocular skin cancer
• squint
• pterygium removal

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgery for corrective surgery for jaws, temporo-mandibular joints, placement of dental implants, bone grafting and removal of teeth (in particular wisdom teeth).

Our orthopaedic surgeons perform knee arthroscopy, knee and hip replacements, surgery for sporting conditions (including reconstructive surgery, shoulder, elbow and wrist surgery). They treat fractures, dislocations, joint disorders, back pain, foot disorders and skeletal defects.

The pre-admission program ensures that our patients are well-prepared for their upcoming surgery and recovery after surgery.

We care for many children who have surgery at The Bays. Our surgeon regularly perform:

• Tonsillectomy, grommets and adenoidectoy – view our otolaryngology surgeons
• Oral surgery and tooth removal – view our oral and maxillofacial surgeons
• Orthopaedic surgery for broken bones or dislocations – view our orthopaedic surgeons
• Minor plastic surgery – view our plastic surgeons

Some of these procedures only require a day surgery visit. These patients are cared for in our Day Surgery Unit and then discharged to go home.

Children required to stay in hospital overnight after surgery are cared for in a private room on our surgical ward. A parent or carer must stay with a child at all times during their stay.

We encourage parents and carers to be involved in the child’s care (including washing, feeding and entertaining them). This helps minimise their distress at being in a strange place. One person is allowed to stay overnight with a child patient. A recliner will be provided in the room.

Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons provide:

• abdominoplasty
• liposuction
• removal of skin lesions and moles (including squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma)
• skin grafts
• hand reconstructive and micro-surgery
• cosmetic face and neck surgery (including full facelifts and eyelid surgery)
• rhinoplasty (cosmetic and reconstructive nurse surgery)
• breast surgery (including enhancement, reduction or reconstruction surgery)

Our orthopaedic surgeons and our neurosurgeons perform spinal surgery.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform thoracic surgery.

Our endocrine surgeons perform thyroid surgery.

Our urologists perform surgery for prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer. They do vasectomies and vasectomy reversal and provide treatment for benign enlargement of the prostate gland, kidney stones, kidney and bladder infections.

We use minimally invasive laser technology to treat obstructive urinary symptoms caused by enlargement of the prostate gland and stones in the urinary tract.

Our urology clinical nurse specialist is available to provide education and support to our patients before and after surgery. They can give you advice about incontinence, urinary retention or issues you may experience after your surgery.

Our prostate cancer care nurse is also available for patient support. Contact them on 03 5970 5339.

We also have a stomal therapy nurse available. Please see more information about them in our support services section.

Our vascular surgeons repair the effects of aortic aneurysms, perform bypass surgery, carotid endarterectomy, varicose veins and peripheral angiography, as well as the management of complex vascular and arterial leg ulcers.