This guide is for patients that are being admitted to the Victoria General Hospital for open thoracotomy pulmonary resection surgery for lung cancer treatment. Your surgeon will make a surgical cut between two ribs. The cut will go from the front of your chest wall to your back, passing just underneath your armpit. These ribs will be separated. Your lung on this side will be deflated so that air will not move in and out of it during surgery. Your surgeon may not know how much of your lung needs…
A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. An oophorectomy is the removal of one or both ovaries. A vaginal repair can be done for the front (anterior) or the back (posterior) vaginal wall muscles. An anterior repair of the vagina is surgery to correct a cystocele. A cystocele is a bulge in the bladder through the vaginal wall. A posterior repair of the vagina is surgery to correct a rectocele. A rectocele is a bulge through a weak place in the vaginal wall muscles. Topics in this pamphlet in…
La cataracte est une diminution de la transparence (opacification) du cristallin, dans l’œil. Le chirurgien effectue une petite incision (coupure) à l’avant de votre œil. La cataracte est retirée et une nouvelle lentille en plastique est placée dans votre œil, derrière la pupille. Cette brochure décrit ce qui se passe le jour de l’opération, fournit des instructions à suivre après le congé et énumère les choses à faire à la maison (y compris la façon d’utiliser les gouttes ophtalmiques). Elle f…
La cornée est la membrane transparente située à l’avant de votre œil. Votre ophtalmologue a recommandé une greffe de cornée parce que vous ne pouvez pas voir clairement à travers votre cornée ou parce qu’elle vous cause de la douleur. La cornée d’un donneur sera utilisée pour remplacer la partie endommagée ou malade de votre cornée. Vous trouverez, dans la présente publication, des directives relatives au congé après votre intervention chirurgicale et aux soins à domicile. ; This is a French tr…
Your eyes are filled with a fluid made by the ciliary body. This fluid flows through the pupil, in front of the lens, and then out through a drain called the trabecular meshwork. Glaucoma is a disease where increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve. It usually happens when the trabecular meshwork (drain) does not work and fluid cannot drain from the eye. Fluid buildup in the front part of the eye increases pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. This damage may at first caus…
Your eyes are filled with a fluid made by the ciliary body. This fluid flows through the pupil, in front of the lens, and then out through a drain called the trabecular meshwork. Glaucoma is a disease where increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve. It usually happens when the trabecular meshwork (drain) does not work and fluid cannot drain from the eye. Fluid buildup in the front part of the eye increases pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. This damage may at first caus…
A cataract is when the lens in your eye gets cloudy over time. The lens sits in a capsule (clear sac). During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed, leaving the capsule in place. A lens implant is put in front of the capsule. In up to half of patients who have had cataract surgery, the capsule also gets cloudy. When this happens, vision becomes blurred. This cloudiness can be treated with a YAG laser. The YAG laser is used to make an opening in the capsule (capsulotomy), like making a hole in a p…
A parotidectomy is surgery to remove your parotid gland(s). The parotid glands are large salivary glands. They are on the side of your face, just in front of and below your ears. This pamphlet explains what will happen right after surgery, care at home, follow-up care, and symptoms that need immediate medical attention.
Vos yeux sont remplis d'un liquide fabriqué par le corps ciliaire. Ce liquide s'écoule à travers la pupille, devant le cristallin, puis sort par un drain appelé trabéculum. Le glaucome est une maladie dans laquelle une pression accrue dans l'œil endommage le nerf optique. Il survient généralement lorsque le trabéculum (drain) ne fonctionne pas et que le liquide ne peut pas s'écouler de l'œil. L'accumulation de liquide dans la partie avant de l'œil augmente la pression dans l'œil, ce qui endomma…
Vos yeux sont remplis d'un liquide fabriqué par le corps ciliaire. Ce liquide s'écoule à travers la pupille, devant le cristallin, puis sort par un drain appelé trabéculum. Le glaucome est une maladie dans laquelle une pression accrue dans l'œil endommage le nerf optique. Il survient généralement lorsque le trabéculum (drain) ne fonctionne pas et que le liquide ne peut pas s'écouler de l'œil. L'accumulation de liquide dans la partie avant de l'œil augmente la pression dans l'œil, ce qui endomma…
On parle d’une cataracte quand le cristallin de votre œil devient trouble ou opaque avec le temps. Le cristallin se trouve dans une capsule (ou enveloppe). Pendant la chirurgie, le cristallin opaque est enlevé, mais la capsule demeure en place. Une lentille intraoculaire est placée à l’avant de la capsule. Jusqu’à la moitié des capsules des personnes qui ont subi une chirurgie pour la cataracte deviendront brumeuses elles aussi. Quand cela se produit, la vision devient trouble. Cette opacité pe…
Uveitis (u-vee-I-tis) is inflammation (swelling) of the eye, similar to arthritis, but in the eye. Iritis (i-RYE-tis) is a type of uveitis. The inflammation is in the area of the iris, at the front of the eye. This pamphlet explains the symptoms of uveitis and how it is treated.
This surgery removes all or part of a damaged cornea (the clear, front part of your eye) and replaces it with healthy donor tissue. A corneal transplant can be done to improve vision, relieve pain, or treat a severe (very bad) infection. This pamphlet explains the 3 main types of corneal transplants, what to expect after surgery, things to remember, and how to use eye drops. A list of symptoms that need medical attention right away is included. The French version of this pamphlet 1718, "Greffe …
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. Cataracts can be removed easily with surgery. The surgeon will make a small incision (cut) in the front of your eye. They will remove the cataract. They will then place a clear, plastic lens in your eye behind your pupil. The pamphlet explains the possible risks of cataract surgery, what will happen on the day of surgery, discharge instructions, care at home, and how to use eye drops. A list of symptoms that need medical attention is included. T…
The space at the front of the eye between the cornea and the iris is called the anterior chamber. Hyphema is when there is blood in the anterior chamber. Bleeding may cause the pressure in your eye to get worse. This can cause permanent vision loss and other serious problems. Hyphema is usually caused by a blunt injury (injury caused by a very strong force). It is very important to follow directions from your health care team to help stop your eye from bleeding again. This pamphlet explains how…
A corneal ulcer is an open sore on your cornea (the clear, front part of your eye). Corneal ulcers are usually caused by an infection. They can also be caused by dry eye or other eye diseases. Corneal ulcers are diagnosed with an eye exam. Your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) may take swabs from your eye. This will help them decide which medication will work best if you have an infection. This pamphlet explains how a corneal ulcer is treated, and gives information on pain and follow-up. A list of …
This pamphlet gives information about medication coverage. It explains: ; how to check if your private drug plan covers a certain medication. ; what to do if you pay for your medications up front and get reimbursed, and you need an expensive medication. ; what help is available if your private drug plan doesn’t cover your medication costs. ; what to do if you don’t have a private insurance plan.