ANAESTHESIA INFORMATION
Important information
Before your anaesthetic:
• Do not eat any solid food (or drink any liquid that you cannot see through) for 6 hours before your procedure in order to decrease the risk of you regurgitating under anaesthesia.
• You may drink clear liquids such as water, coffee or tea with no milk or creamer, or juice without particles up to 2 hours before your procedure.
• Children may drink clear fluids as above up to 1 hour before their procedure (to a maximum volume of 3 ml/kg).
After your anaesthetic:
• You may not drive a vehicle or operate heavy machinery, sign legal documents or make binding decisions for a period of 24 hours.
Below are the different types of anaesthesia. Although modern anaesthesia is generally very safe, all forms of anaesthesia involve some risk.
• General Anaesthesia:
o Expected result: Total unconscious state, possible placement of a tube into the windpipe.
o Technique: Drug injected into the bloodstream, anaesthetic gas breathed into the lungs.
o Risks: Mouth or throat pain, hoarseness, injury to mouth or teeth, injury to the vocal cords, awareness, injury to blood vessels, aspiration, pneumonia.
• Spinal or Epidural Anaesthesia:
o Expected result: Temporary loss of feeling and/or movement to the lower part of the body.
o Technique: Drug injected through a needle or catheter placed into, or immediately outside the spinal canal.
o Risks: Headache, backache, bleeding, buzzing in ears, convulsions, infection, residual pain, total spinal, persistent weakness, persistent numbness, paralysis.
• Nerve Block:
o Expected result: Temporary loss of feeling and movement of a specific limb or area.
o Technique: Drug injected around nerves, using anatomical, nerve stimulator or ultrasound to guide the injection.
o Risks: Infection, convulsions, persistent loss of function, injury to blood vessel, weakness, residual pain.
• Monitored Anaesthesia Care:
o Expected result: Reduced anxiety or pain, partial or total amnesia for the event. A light plane of sleep/relaxation where you may still hear and be aware of what is going on.
o Technique: Medication either injected intravenously, breathed into the lungs, or other route. Measurement of vital signs, availability of anaesthesia provider for further intervention if needed.
o Risks: Increased awareness, anxiety or discomfort, unconsciousness, depressed breathing, aspiration.