General Anaesthesia

• Application of monitoring and siting of a cannula as described above
• You will be given oxygen via a face mask before you go to sleep
• The anaesthetic will be induced with an injection or breathing narcotic gas in selected cases. The injection may sting or burn a bit for a short while.
• When you are asleep an airway will be placed to support your breathing
• You will then be taken to the operating theatre and positioned for the operation
• Pain killers, antibiotics, anti-sickness and anti-inflammatory medication, fluids and muscle relaxants may also be given. Blood is only given if really necessary (e.g. in a larger blood loss)
• For larger operations you may also need an arterial line (cannula into an artery to measure your blood pressure beat by beat) or a neck line (central venous line) or a urinary catheter (tube in your bladder) for a short time
• The anaesthetic can be maintained with anaesthetic gases and oxygen or by an intravenous infusion
• After the operation the anaesthetic drugs will be stopped and you will wake up in the recovery room

Possible complications / risks with general anaesthesia

(sorted by probability of occurence)

1:10 to 1:100 (very common & common)

• Sickness and vomiting after surgery (despite anti-sickness drugs)
• Sore throat, hoarseness, coughing
• Dizziness, blurred vision, itching shivering
• Headache, aches, pains, backache, bruising, soreness
• Difficulty emptying your bladder
• Confusion, memory loss
• Damage to lips or tongue

1:1,000 (uncommon)

• Slow breathing, chest infection
• Muscle pains
• Damage to teeth
• Worsening medical condition
• Awareness (being conscious during the operation)

1:10,000 to 1:100,000 (rare & very rare)

• Heart attack, stroke
• Severe allergy to drugs (1:10,000 to 1:20,000)
• Damage to the eyes
• Nerve damage
• Death (1:200,000)
• Equipment failure