It is completely normal to be nervous before surgery, so we have collated some frequently asked questions to ease your concerns.
What will I feel during anaesthesia?
All types of anaesthesia are designed to reduce or remove feeling in the part of the body where the procedure is happening. If conscious sedation is used then patients are able to respond purposefully to verbal commands or light touch. A variety of medications and techniques are available for procedural sedation and/or pain relief. The most common medications given into a vein are benzodiazepines (such as midazolam) for sedation and opioids (such as fentanyl) for analgesia, which decrease the perception/feeling of pain.
Deep levels of sedation, where consciousness is lost and patients respond only to pain, are associated with reduced ability to maintain an open airway. The anaesthetist will relieve any difficulty with breathing or changes in heart function. Having general anaesthesia involves the patient being put into a medication-induced state where the patient does not feel pain, and may be associated with changes in breathing and circulation. Under general anaesthesia, a patient is in a state of carefully monitored unconsciousness.
Could I react to an anaesthetic drug?
It is possible to have an allergic reaction to medications given as part of anaesthesia. The reaction varies from a mild allergic reaction, such as a rash, to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, which is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction. The incidence of anaphylaxis reactions to anaesthetic agents in Australia is 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000.
Neuromuscular (nerve and muscle blocking medications are responsible for 70 per cent of the life-threatening allergic reactions during anaesthesia. In 80 per cent of reactions to these medications, there had been no previous history of use.
Antibiotic medications and latex (rubber) are the other common causes of allergic reaction. Penicillin is the most common antibiotic to cause an allergic reaction. It is important that you tell your anaesthetist if you have experienced an allergic reaction to any medications in the past.
What risks are involved?
Patients often want to know about the risks of Anaesthesia before accepting to proceed with it, below are some of the common risks that patients must accept before having their anaesthetic.
These may seem like high risks, however to put it into perspective; a 1 in 10,000 risk means, you would have to have the anaesthetic EVERY SINGLE DAY for almost 30years for the event to occur once.
Your Anaesthetist has many years training to become a Specialist Doctor, so they will do everything possible to minimise these risks and ensure a safe and comfortable journey through the procedure.
Australia has the best safety records, and the best anaesthetic training in the world, so you can proceed with confidence knowing that you have an Australian trained Specialist Anaesthetist looking after you.
Common risks with Anaesthesia (1 in 10 – 1 in 100)
Rare risks with Anaesthesia (1 in 100 – 1 in 1,000)
Vary rare risks (1 in 1,000 – 1 in 10,000)
Extremely rare risks (1 in 10,000 – 1 in 1,000,000)
Does the Specialist Anaesthetist stay there during the surgery?
Yes, the Anaesthetist always stays in the operating room while patient is Anaesthetised. Anaesthetists do this to ensure patients under anaesthetic are not exposed to any harm, and ensure the body maintains normal function while under the effect of the Anaesthetic. This includes attaching and checking monitoring, heart function, lung function, blood pressure, oxygen levels, kidney function, as well as managing any emergencies such as severe bleeding, cardiac arrest, or severe allergy (anaphylaxis).
Can I drive or travel on public transport afterwards?
In short NO. In the early post-operative period there is potential for unexpected medical complications (depressed breathing or a decreased level of consciousness from post operative medications or bleeding.) Because of the medicine that will be in your body for up to 24 hours, your judgement and motor skills will be impaired which is why you must discharged into the care of a responsible adult.
