Minor and Major Surgery

 

Dr. Paul Binhammer performs both Minor Surgery and Major Surgery here at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Minor Surgery is performed in our clinic, while Major Surgery is performed in the hospital operating room.

 

What you need to know about Minor Surgery:

Once it has been determined by the Doctor, and you have agreed to proceed with Minor Surgery, you will be placed on our waitlist to be booked for your procedure. Minor Surgery runs once every month, sometimes once every two months depending on the Doctor’s schedule and room availability (please note! We have 5 Doctors in our clinic, and we must share operating room time). When a spot becomes available, our office staff will contact you to offer you a procedure date as well as an 8 day follow up (booked ahead of time). Please try to limit your calls regarding the status of your wait time, as we have many patients who need our assistance and deserve the same attention and care as yourself. Once you have confirmed the Minor Surgery date, our staff will either mail or email you your Minor Surgery date, time, location and instructions for surgery

 

Minor Surgery is performed in our clinic and is done under local anesthesia. Patients are to arrive 10 minutes prior to their scheduled procedure and are to check in with our front receptionist. Patients are to bring with them the following;

• Valid Ontario Health Card, and/or health insurance information

• Current list of your medications (this includes herbal and non-herbal)

• WCB number (if you are on Worker’s Compensation)

• Wear comfortable clothing

 

If you are ill with flu-like symptoms, we ask that you call our office immediately to reschedule your procedure at (416) 480-6731

 

Healing time for Minor Surgery:

Healing is a gradual process; within 1 week from your Minor Surgery date you should be able to use your hand for light activities such as self-care i.e. eating, combing your hair, brushing your teeth etc. Below are a few guidelines to follow with regards to healing time.  Please feel free to call us anytime, if you require further clarification.

• Patients having Minor Surgery for trigger finger(s) and/or tumors/cysts – return to heavy activities approximately 1 month after your surgery date

• Patients having Minor Surgery for carpal tunnel and/or De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis – return to heavy activities approximately 3 months after your surgery date

 

  

What you need to know about Major Surgery:

Once it has been determined by the Doctor, and you have agreed to proceed with Major Surgery, you will be placed on our waitlist to be booked for your procedure. When a spot becomes available, our office staff will contact you to offer you a surgery date. Please try to limit your calls regarding the status of your wait time, as we have many patients who need our assistance and deserve the same attention and care as yourself. (Please note! We are a trauma unit, which means we receive a high volume of emergency and trauma cases. There is ALWAYS a chance that your scheduled Major Surgery will be bumped for an emergency and/or trauma patient who needs immediate surgery; this can lead to rescheduling of your Major Surgery multiple times). It is our responsibility to make sure that all patients are treated in a timely manner. Should your surgery be cancelled last minute, our office staff will always try to rebook your Major Surgery for the next available date.

 

Once you have agreed to proceeding with Major Surgery, your Doctor will ask you to complete a consent to treatment form, and a anesthesia questionnaire. Our office staff will provide you with a form stating your surgery date and time, as well as before and after surgery instructions. Some patients may require a pre-operative appointment with a Registered Nurse before their surgery date. This appointment is usually booked 2 weeks prior to your scheduled Major Surgery date and can be done either by telephone or in person (the type of pre-op appointment is determined by the Registered Nurse here at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre). Make sure to give our office staff your availability, so that we can try to coordinate this with your schedule. Failure to show up to your pre-operative appointment may result in cancellation of your scheduled surgery.  Please refer to the guidelines below on what to do before and after your Major Surgery;

 

Day before Major Surgery:

• Surgical Services will call you the day before your Major Surgery with your surgery time and registration time. If you do not receive any phone calls regarding your surgery by 2:00PM the day before, you must call Surgical Services at (416) 480-6100 ext. 4408 to confirm that your surgery is still on. If you cannot get a hold of Surgical Services please call our office at (416) 480-6731.

• If you are ill with flu-like symptoms, we ask that you call our office immediately to reschedule your surgery at (416) 480-6731

• DO NOT EAT ANY SOLID FOOD AFTER MIDNIGHT (THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY!)

  • Clear fluids are permitted up to 4 hours before surgery. Clear fluids include the following; water, clear apple juice (not apple cider), cranberry juice, clear broth, black tea or coffee. Sugar is allowed, but NO dairy products or whiteners. Colourless carbonated soft drinks are allowed. DO NOT drink milk, orange juice or any other juice containing pulp

• YOU MUST ARRANGE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR AFTER YOUR SURGERY!

  • It is hospital policy that any patient who receives anesthetic/sedation, is required to have someone accompany them home from the hospital and are to stay with you overnight. You CANNOT leave the hospital by yourself and take public transportation, this is NOT acceptable.

  • CAUTION! You are advised not to drive a vehicle, drink alcohol, take sedatives/tranquilizers and all related drugs for 24 hours following your anesthetic/sedation. Use of drugs and alcohol will have an increased effect for some time after your anesthetic. Your judgment and co-ordination may be impaired. If in doubt, contact your Doctor and always follow your Doctor’s instructions about rest, medication and diet once you have returned home

 

Day of Major Surgery:

• You must arrive 2 hours prior to your scheduled surgery time, and check in at Surgical Services at the main entrance M-wing building, ground floor room MG502

• Please leave all valuables at home. The hospital WILL NOT assume responsibility for lost valuables

• DO NOT wear any makeup, jewelry, nail polish, perfumes/cologne or any other scented products. The operating room is a fragrance free zone

• Please bring with you the following:

  • $15.00 to cover prescription costs. If necessary, medication might be prescribed to you after surgery

  • Identification showing your full name, address and date of birth (driver’s license, cheque stub, passport etc.)

  • Valid Ontario health card and/or health insurance information

  • Current list of your medications (this includes herbal and non-herbal)

  • WCB number (if you are on Worker’s Compensation)

  • Your family Doctor’s full name and contact information

  • Wear comfortable clothing

 

After your Major Surgery:

• On completion of your surgery, you will return to the Same Day Unit either directly after, or after a short stay in the recovery room. You must remain in the Same Day Unit until you have been given discharge instructions, and a follow up appointment with Dr. Binhammer is made. Please have a relative/friend call (416) 480-6100 ext. 5988 for your discharge time. If you end up leaving the hospital without a scheduled follow up appointment with Dr. Binhammer, please call our office immediately to book one at (416) 480-6731

 

Healing time for Major Surgery:

Dr. Binhammer performs many different types of Major Surgery, during your consult please make sure to confirm how long after surgery recovery will take for your specific procedure and if any limitations to your mobility.