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.
This can be general, regional blockade, local anaesthesia, sedation or a combination of them, depending on the type of surgery and your health. For general anaesthesia you are put into a state of unconsciousness during the operation by giving drugs, either by inhalation or into the vein. Regional anaesthesia numbs parts of the body by injecting a local anaesthetic drug near nerves, whilst local anaesthesia refers to injecting a similar drug at the site of the operation. Sedation can be given for most procedures, often with regional or local anaesthesia. Sedation will make you sleepy and relaxed, but not as deeply unconscious as general anaesthesia. This means that you may be aware of your surroundings but not have any discomfort. During 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 should 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.