General Anaesthesia
During general anaesthesia, you will be in a state of controlled unconsciousness. Throughout the anaesthetic, you will not see, hear or feel anything and this will allow your surgery to take place. In some cases a general anaesthetic is essential and in other cases it is used as an alternative to a regional anaesthetic. The most common way to have a general anaesthetic is via an intravenous 'drip' where drugs are injected to render you unconscious and this state is maintained using anaesthetic gases breathed into the lungs. You will recover from anaesthesia once the anaesthetic drugs and/or gases are ceased. It is important to note that the 'sleep' during anaesthesia is different from usual sleep or a comatose state caused by disease or injury.
General Anaesthesia for Children
For young children a needle-free, inhalational technique is most often used. They will breathe on the anaesthetic gas via a spacemask and instructed to blow up a 'balloon'. This will continue until they lose consciousness. Following this, they may exhibit restlessness until they achieve a greater depth of anaesthesia. This is quite normal, and the child is already unconscious at this stage.
Older children will have numbing cream placed on the back of the hand and a tiny drip inserted to allow administration of anaesthetic drugs to induce anaesthesia.
A parent will often wish to accompany their child into the operating room until their child is asleep, and I am happy to allow this in most cases. A favourite cuddly toy, music or storybook often helps with the process.
Older children will have numbing cream placed on the back of the hand and a tiny drip inserted to allow administration of anaesthetic drugs to induce anaesthesia.
A parent will often wish to accompany their child into the operating room until their child is asleep, and I am happy to allow this in most cases. A favourite cuddly toy, music or storybook often helps with the process.
Regional Anaesthesia
A nerve block numbs the area where the surgeon operates. This avoids the need for general anaesthesia. You may be awake or sedated. Common examples are epidurals for labour, spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section, and eye blocks for cataract surgery.
Sedation
Typically involves the use of intravenous drugs to produce a relaxed and drowsy state. It makes you physically and mentally relaxed about a procedure which can be uncomfortable - examples are minor plastic surgical procedures and endoscopy. There is a spectrum of sedation levels ranging from light to deep sedation which is under the control of the anaesthetist. You may remember a little of what happened or you may remember nothing.
Combinations
Often anaesthesia types are combined to produce a better result for the patient and surgeon. For example, if you were having a major joint replacement under spinal anaesthesia, sedation is usually also given to increase your comfort levels during the procedure.