You have discussed with your physician a gynecological operation to be performed by a gynecologist from the Amsterdam UMC at the Boerhaave Medical Center. In this information brochure, you can read how things will go and what you can expect.
The course of action
After you have discussed the surgery with your practitioner and decided on surgery, you will be placed on the waiting list. Then, the surgery planner will contact you for a possible date.
Surgery at the Boerhaave Medical Center is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor administering the anesthesia (anesthesiologist) will conduct a preoperative screening via the outpatient clinic (preassessment). This consists of a telephone or outpatient consultation. If necessary, a general physical examination is performed, sometimes supplemented by blood tests, a lung X-ray, or a cardiac ultrasound (ECG). Next, the anesthesiologist will discuss anesthesia with you. Only after you see the anesthesiologist can the surgery be scheduled. Most surgeries are scheduled on a Wednesday.
About the surgery
You will follow the anesthesiologist's instructions about fasting and taking any medication.
On the day of surgery, you will report to the Boerhaave Medical Center at the appointed time.
After being admitted by the nurse, you will see the gynecologist and/or gynecologist-in-training to discuss any further questions.
After this, you will be taken to the operating room. There you will be asked to lie down on the operating table. Then the arrangements surrounding the operation will be briefly reviewed in your presence by the doctor who will be operating on you, the anesthesiologist, and the operating assistant. Next, you will receive an IV, usually at the top of your left hand. Through this drip, you will be administered the anesthetic drugs and fluids. Finally, you will fall asleep and not notice anything until you wake up in the recovery room after surgery. After surgery, you will remain in the recovery room for a while, after which you will be returned to the ward.
You may have a sore throat due to the tube inserted under anesthesia to ventilate you. As a result, you may experience some nausea and vomiting. The IV will remain in place until the nausea is gone and you are able to drink on your own. Usually, the nurse will remove the IV just before you go home. For pain and nausea after surgery, you will be given medication. You can take 1000mg paracetamol at home (= 2 tablets of 500mg paracetamol four times a day). If this is not sufficient, you can use additional Naproxen (e.g., Aleeve feminax). Keep the leaflet for the dosage.
After the procedure, the gynecologist who operated on you will meet with you to tell you
how the operation went and to give you instructions on living rules after the procedure. You will also receive a leaflet about this. Depending on the type of surgery and the anesthesiologist's advice, you may go home the same day. Ensure that someone can take you home and that you are not alone during the first night after surgery. Should it be medically necessary for you to remain hospitalized, you will be transferred to the Amsterdam UMC, location AMC.
Post-operative check
In many cases, the gynecologist who operated on you will make a phone appointment with you after two weeks to hear how you are doing. If necessary, he or she will discuss the examination of the tissue removed during surgery with you. Then, depending on your operation and your symptoms, we will schedule an outpatient check-up with you after 4 to 8 weeks. This takes place at the AMC location. After most operations, no physical check-up is necessary.
In case of complaints
If, during the first two weeks after discharge, you have symptoms such as persistent heavy
abdominal pain, fever from 38⁰C rectal or heavy blood loss (more than normal menstruation) or have other concerns; please contact:
- Obstetrics & gynecology via T (020) 5663400
- the Emergency First Aid for Women (SEH-V) Amsterdam UMC, location AMC (outside office hours or in case of emergency) T (020) 5661500; please indicate that you have had surgery.
In conclusion
If you would like to see the operating gynecologist before the procedure, you can request this through the obstetrics & gynecology outpatient clinic. A telephone or outpatient appointment can then be arranged.
The gynecologists who operate on you work in both Amsterdam UMC's electronic patient file (EPD) and the EPD of the Boerhaave Medical Center. Your surgical data will be registered in the Boerhaave Medical Center's system; you must always give permission for this if you and your doctor decide to have surgery at the Boerhaave Medical Center.
Address details Boerhaave Medical Center
Boerhaave Medical Center
Dintelstraat 60
1078 VV Amsterdam