Fasting
It is important to follow fasting instructions carefully. If there is food or fluid in your stomach at time of surgery it could come back up your throat and damage your lungs.
For adults - nothing to eat for 6 hours. For a morning list this means fasting after midnight, and for afternoon lists this means fasting after an early morning light breakfast (before 7 am). Clear fluids (water, pulp free fruit juice, clear cordial, black tea and coffee) can be consumed up to 2 hours before surgery.
For babies and young children - I follow Royal Children's Hospital guidelines. Infants (6 months and under) can have formula up to 4 hours before surgery, and breast milk up to 3 hours before surgery. Young children should have clear fluids (fluids you can see through with no 'bits') such as water, apple juice, cordial up to 1 hour before surgery. No solid food permitted for 6 hours before surgery.
For adults - nothing to eat for 6 hours. For a morning list this means fasting after midnight, and for afternoon lists this means fasting after an early morning light breakfast (before 7 am). Clear fluids (water, pulp free fruit juice, clear cordial, black tea and coffee) can be consumed up to 2 hours before surgery.
For babies and young children - I follow Royal Children's Hospital guidelines. Infants (6 months and under) can have formula up to 4 hours before surgery, and breast milk up to 3 hours before surgery. Young children should have clear fluids (fluids you can see through with no 'bits') such as water, apple juice, cordial up to 1 hour before surgery. No solid food permitted for 6 hours before surgery.
Medications
It is important to keep a list of medications that you take to show me on the day of surgery. Please also note down any allergies you might have.
Most medications will need to be continued even on the day of surgery. These can be taken with a sip of water even while fasting.
There are some exceptions
- diabetic medications - these need to be withheld or reduced. seek advice from surgeon, diabetes specialist, or myself
- blood thinning medications - may need to be stopped temporarily for certain operations. seek advice from surgeon or myself
Most medications will need to be continued even on the day of surgery. These can be taken with a sip of water even while fasting.
There are some exceptions
- diabetic medications - these need to be withheld or reduced. seek advice from surgeon, diabetes specialist, or myself
- blood thinning medications - may need to be stopped temporarily for certain operations. seek advice from surgeon or myself
Previous anaesthesia
If there have been any previous experiences with anaesthesia at a different hospital it will usually be relevant to bring this up with me. Please also discuss any complications or adverse effects you have experienced with prior anaesthetics.
Anxiety
Conducting anaesthesia is routine for myself, but certainly not routine for you. It could very well be a life-defining event for you. As such, it is not uncommon to feel a bit nervous or even very anxious about your upcoming procedure. Speak to me if you wish to have any concerns discussed before the anaesthetic, and occasionally sedative premedication will also help.
Smoking and anaesthesia
Smoking has both a short and long term negative impact on your anaesthesia and surgery.
Short term negative effects include reduced oxygen carriage within the blood, harmful nicotine stimulant effects, increased respiratory complications, and poor wound healing.
Long term negative effects include association with heart disease, vascular disease, lung disease and multiple types of cancer.
The benefits from smoking cessation occur as soon as 12 hours after stopping your last cigarette.
I therefore do not condone smoking 12 hours before surgery, and even more ideal would be quitting altogether >4 weeks before your scheduled operation.
Smoking cessation is best initiated in conjunction with your doctor (myself, surgeon, or GP) as it is proven to have greater success with pharmacological aids (nicotine replacement therapy) and community support (Quitline)
Short term negative effects include reduced oxygen carriage within the blood, harmful nicotine stimulant effects, increased respiratory complications, and poor wound healing.
Long term negative effects include association with heart disease, vascular disease, lung disease and multiple types of cancer.
The benefits from smoking cessation occur as soon as 12 hours after stopping your last cigarette.
I therefore do not condone smoking 12 hours before surgery, and even more ideal would be quitting altogether >4 weeks before your scheduled operation.
Smoking cessation is best initiated in conjunction with your doctor (myself, surgeon, or GP) as it is proven to have greater success with pharmacological aids (nicotine replacement therapy) and community support (Quitline)