Surgery and Rehabilitation in Italy

Introduction

Elective orthopaedic surgery (hip replacement, knee replacement, cruciate ligament repair, and so on) is not, and cannot be, a stand-alone intervention.

It must be accompanied by a proper medical treatment (the right type of anaesthesia, the right cardiovascular monitoring, the right treatment of the otherwise inevitable post-operative pain). Most importantly, it goes hand in hand with physical rehabilitation, which will put the patient in the best physical shape after the intervention.

IMeT offers the following medical packages:

1.
Complete
medical package

IMeT is proud to propose a complete clinical package inclusive of surgery and physical rehabilitation, which we consider as important as the surgery for a successful and satisfactory outcome.

2.
Orthopaedic
rehabilitation

Orthopaedic rehabilitation can also be offered as a stand-alone package and treatment, and also, when appropriate, as an outpatient option (day hospital).

3.
Rehabilitation
after Covid

IMeT also offers specific pulmonary, cardiological rehabilitation, and neurological rehabilitation for patients who have sequelae after severe Covid-19, which can be particularly important in the years after the pandemic.

IMeT dedicate specific attention to collateral aspects that we consider very important, such as the most modern types of anaesthesia (as “light” as possible, to be accessible to patients with serious cardiovascular problems, and to minimise risks and accelerate the process of healing), the total adherence to the highest standards of hygiene, and the up-to-date management of post-operative pain.

Particular attention is dedicated to the prevention of venous thrombo-embolism, in line with the most current medical standards.

Our surgery package therefore includes: the surgery, the corollary treatments, the rehabilitation, and an indication of the estimated appropriate length of hospital stay which will deliver the best results.

All hospitals are located in beautiful areas: most of them were indeed originally built as sanatoria for patients with tuberculosis or poliomyelitis, at the time when the appropriate drugs and vaccines had not been invented yet and physiotherapy plus resting in the sunshine (“heliotherapy”) were considered the best forms of treatment.

After tuberculosis become much rarer, and its treatment began to rely much more on the right modern medicines, and poliomyelitis virtually disappeared, thanks to first the Salk, and later to the Sabin vaccine, these hospitals were converted into centres for surgery and rehabilitation, in this way making the most of their locations and architectural structures.

They all have sun terraces and outdoor facilities, which make outdoor rehabilitation a potential complement to indoor dedicated gyms, swimming pools and rehabilitation rooms.

Certification

All IMeT associated hospitals are fully certified by the Italian National Health System and its Regional Health Authorities as service providers fully compliant with the Italian Standards, which in turn are in line with those of all the major European countries.

They are regularly audited by the Relevant Health Authorities.

Types of Anaesthesia offered

All surgical interventions are conducted, in line with the current International Standards, with the use of the least invasive form of anaesthesia, typically spinal or loco-regional (with local anaesthesia or regional nerve block) plus sedation.

General Anaesthesia is reserved to a limited number of patients where it is indicated and / or preferred by the patient, or there are medical contra-indications to other forms of anaesthesia.

Pain therapy

Post-operative pain is regularly managed in a preventative manner with paracetamol or NSAIDs, where indicated; if necessary, surgical wound infusion of local anaesthetics is offered.

Opioids are offered as a last resort, normally through a PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) device (elastomer or electronic).

Anticoagulation

All patients will be given Anticoagulation (blood thinning treatment) starting from the day of the surgery and for forty days afterwards.

The first two weeks this will be given in the hospital; the patient will be taught how to continue the treatment at home by self-administration, under the monitoring of our associated private General Practitioners in the UK.

This helps to prevent Venous Thrombo Embolism (VTE), allows earlier rehabilitation, and, very importantly, allows the patient to fly back home safely.

VTE is a danger often encountered if travelling for medical tourism to countries with low-cost offering, where anticoagulation is not offered.