Anaesthesia Information

Please read & complete sections A, B, C & D of the enclosed anaesthesia form (green form) and sign permission for anaesthesia.
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About your Operation

An operation involves many highly specialised people. Apart from the nursing and technical staff, there are a number of specialist physicians who may operate or assist, depending on the nature of the surgical procedure that you are about to undergo.

The Anaesthesiologist

The Anaesthesiologist is present at each and every surgical procedure in the operating theatre, and he/she is there to manage the life support systems that enable you to undergo the operation.

Quite apart from administering gases such as oxygen, these support systems include equipment that monitor various body functions such as blood pressure, kidney, and lung functions.

The Anaesthesiologist interprets this information in order to diagnose, regulate and treat appropriately the body’s organ systems, while a personalised, very delicate balance of anaesthetic medication is administered.

In order to manage the various body functions, the anaesthesiologist has a vast knowledge of medication and pain management, internal medicines, physics, as well as knowledge of stress-related responses which the human body might suffer under surgery.

The Anaesthesiologist is fully equipped to care for you in the best possible manner.

Different Types of Anaesthesia

Sedation:

Drugs are given that will make you drowsy and relaxed, but not put you to sleep. Sedation may be used while performing regional anaesthesia.

Local anaesthesia:

This method is often used where a small area of the body surface is to be operated.

Regional anaesthesia:

Blocking the nerves to a specific area of the body to keep that region pain free. Not everyone is able to have regional anaesthesia. Some people cannot cope with the idea of being awake during surgery. Regional anaesthesia has been developed for the benefit of those patients who may have difficulties in receiving general anaesthesia due to their baseline health or because the surgical procedure they need does not require general anaesthesia.

General anaesthesia:

Means the absence of sensation. You will be completely asleep, feel nothing during the operation, and remember nothing about the operation afterwards. You will be lying on the operating table while a mask or intravenous catheter is put into place and a gaseous anaesthesia administered. While unconscious, oxygen will be administered through a flexible tube inserted into your windpipe or “trachea”. General anaesthesia consists of three parts: sleep, absence of pain, and absence of movement. To achieve this, anaesthesiologists may administer anaesthetic gases (inhalation drugs), sedatives, or narcotic drugs for pain management and muscle relaxants to paralyse your body during surgery. Various other drugs may be administered to control your body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, kidney, and liver functions.
When surgery has been completed, the anaesthesiologist will turn the whole process around and may administer different drugs to that effect. In the recovery room, your vital signs will continue to be monitored. There may be an interval of confusion as you regain consciousness.

Sedation:

Drugs are given that will make you drowsy and relaxed, but not put you to sleep. Sedation may be used while performing regional anaesthesia.

Local anaesthesia:

This method is often used where a small area of the body surface is to be operated.

Regional anaesthesia:

Blocking the nerves to a specific area of the body to keep that region pain free. Not everyone is able to have regional anaesthesia. Some people cannot cope with the idea of being awake during surgery. Regional anaesthesia has been developed for the benefit of those patients who may have difficulties in receiving general anaesthesia due to their baseline health or because the surgical procedure they need does not require general anaesthesia.

General anaesthesia:

Means the absence of sensation. You will be completely asleep, feel nothing during the operation, and remember nothing about the operation afterwards. You will be lying on the operating table while a mask or intravenous catheter is put into place and a gaseous anaesthesia administered. While unconscious, oxygen will be administered through a flexible tube inserted into your windpipe or “trachea”. General anaesthesia consists of three parts: sleep, absence of pain, and absence of movement. To achieve this, anaesthesiologists may administer anaesthetic gases (inhalation drugs), sedatives, or narcotic drugs for pain management and muscle relaxants to paralyse your body during surgery. Various other drugs may be administered to control your body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, kidney, and liver functions.
When surgery has been completed, the anaesthesiologist will turn the whole process around and may administer different drugs to that effect. In the recovery room, your vital signs will continue to be monitored. There may be an interval of confusion as you regain consciousness.

Risk

Many modern surgical techniques are possible thanks to advancements in anaesthesia. However, there are risks involved. Unpredictable reactions to anaesthesia may occur. These may be either allergic reactions or reactions of an idiosyncratic nature, i.e., unpredictable, and inexplicable. Certain medical conditions may complicate the administration of anaesthesia, while untreated illnesses may be contributing risk factors. Research has revealed that patients receiving medical treatment for such illnesses run a much lower risk of suffering negative side-effects.

Risk factors:

  • Degree of complexity: e.g., heightened risk in case of lengthy heart or brain surgery.
  • Age: technical difficulties in the case of the aged and the very young pose greater risk.
  • Weight: obesity puts a patient at greater risk.
  • Dental damage: essential air passage control during anaesthesia may damage teeth and caps.
  • Normal side-effects: pain caused by the surgical procedure, nausea, sore throat, and aching muscles. Although these conditions are difficult to avoid, they are relatively easy to treat and are seldom of a serious nature.

To summarize:
There is always a risk of complications and discomfort involved in the administering of anaesthesia, but this can be greatly reduced, by making use of well-trained and qualified anaesthesiologists. If your doctor is not a qualified anaesthesiologist, you have the right to demand that one be present.
When you grant permission for a procedure to be performed under anaesthesia, it is accepted that you are familiar with the information provided and the risks involved. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to ask the anaesthesiologist.

Preceding your Operation:

In order to have a clear understanding of your needs, information regarding your medical condition will be obtained by your anaesthesiologist either on the day of surgery, the day preceding surgery, or a few days before surgery during your preoperative visit. Because of this, sections A, B, C, & D of the anaesthetic form included in the envelope are to be completed, signed, and handed to your Anaesthesiologist before surgery commences. It is important to provide your Anaesthesiologist with your detailed medical history and drug list. This information, combined with the laboratory data from your tests, is the basis upon which many decisions are made.

Your Anaesthesiologist may prescribe a mild sedative before surgery to calm and relax you. It is important that you take them as prescribed.

Do not eat or drink for at least six hours before surgery. This is to prevent possible aspiration of food particles into the lungs during the course of anaesthesia.

Do not drive a vehicle or operate dangerous equipment for at least twenty-four hours after surgery. If you leave the hospital on the day of the operation, see to it that someone else takes you home.