1 Pre-operative assessment
This usually takes place after you have been admitted to the hospital. I will ask you about your health and previous experiences with anaesthesia. Options for the type of anaesthesia will be discussed after a physical examination.
For shoulder surgery you will have a general anaesthetic usually combine with a regional anaesthetic technique called an interscalene block. For general anaesthesia you are put into a state of unconsciousness during the operation by giving drugs, either by inhalation or into the vein. An interscalene block numbs your shoulder which provides excellent post operative pain relief for 12 hours. After surgery I will monitor your condition and adjust the anaesthetic accordingly.
After your operation I will continue to monitor your condition and recovery from anaesthesia. I will order pain relief, intravenous fluids and other drugs, as necessary. I will usually prescribe pain relief tablets for you to take home. If you are going home on the day of the surgery, you must have an adult accompany you home and to remain with you until the next day. You may eat and drink as you wish, unless instructed otherwise by your surgeon. You must not drive a car, operate machinery, sign any legal documents or drink alcohol on the day of surgery.
This is necessary to ensure that your stomach is empty to ensure that no food can go into your lungs and cause damage whilst under anaesthesia. You can have normal food up until 6 hours before surgery and water sips up until 2 hours before surgery. The time of surgery should be regarded as being your admission time.
Please bring all your medication to the hospital. You should take all your regular medication up to and including the day of surgery (with a small sip of water), except the following - diuretics, insulin, tablets that lower your blood sugar, or any blood thinning medication your surgeon has advised you to cease taking. If you are unsure about your medication, please do not hesitate to ask.
Australia is one of the safest places in the world to have an anaesthetic, partly due to the extensive specialty training of anaesthetists. Complications that are common and minor include nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, headache, sore throat and bruising at the site of injection. Rare and more serious events (which can be treated) include drug reaction, heart attack, lung problems, dental damage and possibility of recall during surgery.
An interscalene block can have minor temporary side effects of shortness of breath, hoarse voice and blurred vision. More serious side effects are extremely rare (<0.1%) and include seizures and nerve damage.