Information regarding Procedures under Anaesthetic

General anaesthetic

Additional information regarding hospitalization

An IVF/ICSI treatment takes place for the large part without the need for hospitalization. Not only will you not be required to spend a night in hospital, you are legally not permitted to do so under Belgian law.

Some investigations and most procedures are performed under either local or general anaesthetic.

In all cases, you will be required to bring both your identification label and white badge. with you. The latter is your identification card as a patient in UZ Brussel. If you do not have one, you will have to obtain one from the admissions desk either in the Children's Hospital or in the main foyer of UZ Brussel.

 

• you will not be required to register as a patient; simply go to the relevant department at the time of your appointment;
• you may go home straight afterwards.

• you must first register at the admissions desk in the foyer of the Children's Hospital (entrance 3 of UZ Brussel);
• you will be admitted to the ward VPE 03 in the CRG, level +1;
• you will be discharged later the same day, after a period of rest in your room on the ward.

General anaesthetic

Admission  to a ward (download instructions)

Procedures performed under general anaesthetic (including epidural anaesthetic) follow a standard pre- operative routine in UZ Brussel, which is also applied to patients receiving treatment in the CRG. 

preparitory procedures

A general anaesthetic requires certain tests which will be carried out during the two weeks preceding:

• a pre-op blood test and a consultation with the anaesthetist. You have to be nil by mouth (fasting) for the pre-op blood tests.
• Women are required to undergo ultrasound and pregnancy testing (a blood test whereby HCG levels are determined). It is important that these tests are performed, otherwise you will be refused a general anaesthetic on the day of your operation.

the course of the intervention
Here too, there are two possible ways to proceed. The intervention will either be performed on a day case basis, or will involve a hospitalization of one or more nights. 

Before the intervention

• day case admission:
  • you must register on your arrival at the admissions desk in the foyer of the Children's Hospital, entrance 3 of UZ Brussel;
  • you will be admitted to the ward VPE03 in the CRG, level +1;
  • you need only come to the hospital on the day of the operation itself, at 07.30am, or at the time specified. You will have to have been fasting since midnight.
• hospitalization:
  • you need to register upon your arrival at the admissions desk in the main entrance hall at UZ Brussel;
  • you will be admitted to the gynaecology surgical ward VPE 19 in the main building of UZ Brussel on the first floor;
  • depending on the manner of preparation required for the operation in question, you will be admitted either:
    • the evening before, at 6pm, or at the time specified; or
    • the morning of the operation at 8am, or at the time specified. In this case you will have to have been fasting since midnight.

We request that you remove any body hair from the area which will be operated upon, and take a betadine shower for hygienic reasons. You will be issued with the necessary equipment to do this in advance from the CRG consultation.

The operation

• You will be given a relaxing pre-med which will have been prescribed by the anaesthetist. You will have to remove false teeth, contact lenses and jewellery etc. Make up and nail varnish must also be completely removed.
• You will be asked to put the operation gown and cap on and the nurses will attach an identification band to your wrist. You will be transported to the operating theatre reception area in your bed, where an infusion will be placed in your arm.
• Theatre personnel will then take you into the operating theatre itself, and you will be put to sleep by the anaesthetist. The length of the operation will depend on the type of intervention and what has to be done.

After the operation

• When you come out of theatre, you will be taken to the recovery room, where you will be cared for and monitored until you are awake and stable enough to return to the ward.
• The anaesthetist will decide when you may begin to eat and drink and at what time you will be allowed to leave the hospital.
• If your care requires a night or nights in hospital after the operation, the length of your stay will depend on the extent of your surgery and your rate of recovery. 
  In the meantime you will receive appropriate medical care and visits either from the surgeon who performed the operation, or the ward doctors. Patients are generally discharged in the afternoon, after 2pm.

Additional information regarding hospitalization

UZ Brussel has both single and twin patient rooms. If you specifically request a single room, during your treatment or for one specific intervention, additional costs will be involved.

telephoning to or from your room
Every bed in the hospital has its own phone line.
Making calls from your room:

Dial 0 first, then the number you require.

Making calls to a room in UZ Brussel:

• single room:  +32 2 4777 + room number.
• twin room:
  • bed closest to the corridor: +32 2 4777 + room number.
  • bed closest to the window: +32 2 4778 + room number.