Form: D-8642

Dr. Gentili’s Office

Information for new patients

Read this resource to know:

• What to expect

• Where to go to get more information

• Where to get support to help you cope

• Answers to frequently asked questions

• Important contact information Welcome to UHN’s Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital where we are committed to giving excellent patient care.

Our division of Neurosurgery is known around the world and is home to 12 leading Neurosurgeons. We treat many brain and spinal conditions including:

• lesions  movement disorders • tumours  vascular conditions • cysts  infections • degenerative diseases  injuries

We also offer clinics in specialized areas of neurosurgery.

You can be sure that you are getting excellent care with Dr. Gentili:

99One of Canada’s top experts in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

99Specializes in skull base, pituitary surgery, and neurovascular surgery.

99He and his team are leading the way in skull base Dr. Fred Gentili surgery and have helped to pioneer endonasal surgery. Neurosurgeon 99Endonasal surgery is one of the most advanced techniques used to remove skull base tumours.

99He and team have done more than 800 endoscopic pituitary tumour surgeries using endonasal surgery.

99Neurosurgeons come from around the world to learn from Dr. Gentili and his team

2 Contact information

By mail: Toronto Western Hospital 399 Bathurst Street West Wing – 4th Floor, 445 Toronto, ON M5T 2S8

General Neurosurgery Clinic Phone: 416 603 5250 (non urgent calls only) Fax: 416 603 5298 (please address faxes to Dr. Gentili’s attention) Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Please listen to our voicemail for any changes in our hours. Your call is important to us. If you leave a message, we will do our best to return your call within 24 business hours.

What to expect

My appointment The University Health Network (UHN) is a teaching hospital. Before you see Dr. Gentili, you may see a Neurosurgical Fellow or Resident. Fellows and Residents are doctors receiving specialty training from Dr. Gentili. They will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. This is a great time to ask any questions you have.

Your appointment may last from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Wait times The clinic moves quickly but sometimes can be delayed due to an emergency or a complex case. We thank you for your patience if there is a delay. You will still receive the same care and attention from Dr. Gentili and his team.

3 Booking my surgery If you need neurosurgery, Dr Gentili will let you know when it may be booked. You will not be given an exact date for your neurosurgery because surgeries are done in order of urgency. This means that a patient with an urgent need for surgery may go before you.

Because of this, surgeries are not booked more than 1 month in advance. You will be called as soon as there is an exact date for your surgery. Your care is important to us and we know that waiting for your surgery date can be hard.

If you notice your symptoms are getting worse or you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. When you are able, please call our office and let us know that you went to the emergency department.

Phone: 416 603 5250 (non urgent calls only)

Booking my tests Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) If you need an MRI before your next visit, the MRI booking department will mail you with your appointment date, time and location.

It is important to keep your address up-to-date with the hospital so you will get this notice in the mail.

To change the appointment: call the MRI booking department at 416 946 2026.

Please call us if your follow up appointment needs to be changed too. It takes up to 2 weeks to get the MRI report.

4 CT scans If you need a CT scan before your next visit, we will contact you by phone or mail with the appointment date, time and location.

To change this appointment: call 416 340 4800 extension 3384.

Remember

If you have your MRI and CT scans done outside of University Health Network (UHN), we cannot access and view them on our system.

It is very important that you have the report sent to Dr. Gentili’s office. Please make sure that your imaging is put on a CD for you to bring to your next appointment.

Blood tests There are 3 locations where you can have blood drawn at the University Health Network. Your results are sent to Dr. Gentili no matter which location you choose. We will tell you the date to get your blood tests done. You do not need an appointment to get blood tests.

Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) Main Pavillion – Main Wing, 1st Floor Room 1M-405 in the Blood Collection ECG Lab near the Nassau St. entrance

Toronto General Hospital (TGH) Eaton Building – Ground Floor, Room 406 (EG-406) in the Diagnostic Test Centre near the Elizabeth Street entrance

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Main Floor Room 624 (M-624), next to the Outpatient Pharmacy and directly across from Nicolby’s gift shop. All blood labs are open Monday to Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm and closed on holidays.

5 Follow-up appointments Dr. Gentili will tell you when he would like to see you in the Neurosurgery Clinic next. You are required to call our office 90 days ahead of time to book your follow up appointment.

Where to go to get more information Here are UHN resources that give you more information about neurosurgery care.

General Surgery information and links:

• www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Visit_UHN/Surgery_Patients

My Surgery Patient Education Guide Available in PDF at website: www.uhn.ca

• Enter the name of this binder in the search field or ask one of our staff for a hard copy.

Transsphenoidal Surgery Available at website: www.uhn.ca Enter the name of this brochure in the search field.

Brain tumour websites

• Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

• American Brain Tumor Association

• National Brain Tumor Society

• Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada

• Pituitary Network Association

6 Where to get support to help you cope If you are having trouble coping with your diagnosis, talk with your doctors. There are many resources they can give to help you.

Your care is important to us. We know that this can be a stressful time for you. The resources below can help you cope.

• Wellspring Downtown Toronto Phone:416 961 1928 Westerkirk House Phone: 416 480 4440

• Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Phone: 1 800 265 5106

Wellspring Wellspring Centres are warm and welcoming. They offer the following support to patients and their caregivers: • programs for healing the body and mind free of charge • programs such as individual and group support, coping skills,educational workshops and presentations, yoga, reiki, art therapy, nutrition and cooking. Please visit the Wellspring website for the complete list of over 40 programs and 8 locations across the GTA and Ontario. • programs are open to anyone coping with any type of cancer including all types of brain and skull base tumours (cancer and non-cancer)

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

• Supports research about brain tumours

• Aims to improve the quality of life for people with brain tumours

• Offers support groups in many different locations throughout Ontario. These support groups offer a place where people with a brain tumour and their loved ones can share experiences and get peer support in a warm and comfortable place.

7 Answers to frequently asked questions

Who to call if you have questions after surgery? I have had my surgery and I’m worried about how I feel. My next appointment is still several weeks away with Dr. Gentili. What should I do? You will be given the name and number of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) before you leave the hospital. Please call your NP to talk about your symptoms, or call our office directly.

If you have any signs of infection or other serious concerns go directly to the emergency department or call 911 and when you are able please notify our office.

Phone: 416 603 5250 (non urgent calls only)

How soon can I exercise after my surgery? For the first 2 to 3 weeks after your surgery:

• do not lift anything heavier than 10 lbs

• try not to bend forward or strain yourself, especially if you have had pituitary surgery

For the first 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery:

• do not go to the gym

• no playing contact sports or going swimming

• mild exercises are allowed if you feel up to it

Ask Dr. Gentili when you can start your regular exercising again at your first follow-up appointment after your surgery.

8 When can I return to work? Your doctor will talk to you about when you can return to work.

It has been a while since my surgery and I have been feeling well. Do I really need my follow up MRI and appointment? Yes. It is very important to go to your follow-up appointments for as long as Dr. Gentili thinks you should. There may be a time when your care can be transferred to your family doctor. You can talk to Dr. Gentili about this at your appointment.

I just had my MRI and I am anxious to get my results. Do I have to wait until my appointment? Yes. It takes up to 2 weeks for Dr. Gentili to receive your MRI results. The fastest way to get your results is to book your appointment as soon as you get your MRI date or 90 days before your MRI.

Do not wait until after your MRI is done to book your follow-up appointment

Can I drive? Please note that your driver’s license must be suspended if you are taking certain medications or having symptoms such as seizures or serious eyesight problems.

This is the law that is in place for your safety and the safety of others. All doctors must follow this law.

If a person stops having seizures for a certain period of time, then an application can be made to re-instate the driver’s license. Talk with your doctors about whether you can drive.

9 How do I manage my pain? Everyone feels pain differently. When you leave the hospital after your surgery you will likely get a prescription for pain medication. Talk to your family doctor if you need more pain medication.

Call our office or visit the emergency department if you are worried about your pain.

I need help at home. What should I do? Home and Community Care can help set up the right kind of care and support in your home. Some or all of the services provided may be covered by government funding.

If you are in hospital and you and your health care team agree that you need help at home, a UHN Social Worker will help you with this.

If you have already gone home, then your family doctor can help with a referral to Home and Community Care.

To learn more visit http://healthcareathome.ca.

Visit www.uhnpatienteducation.ca for more health information.

Contact us to provide feedback or request this brochure in a different format, such as large print or electronic formats: [email protected]

© 2019 University Health Network. All rights reserved.

Use this material for your information only. It does not replace advice from your doctor or other health care professional. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment. Ask your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. You may print 1 copy of this brochure for non-commercial and personal use only.

Form: D-8642 | Author: Karen Chaiton, Wendy Crean and Nancy Hotson | Reviewed: 2019