Anaesthetic

More commonly known as Anesthesia, the anaesthetic procedure is carried out by specialist doctors known as anesthetists. Anesthesia is used to describe a state when you feel no pain, either in the whole of your body or just in part of it.

There are three types of anaesthetic procedures:

• General Anaesthetic,
• Regional Anaesthetic, and
• Local Anaesthetic

The type chosen by your anesthetist depends on the surgery you are undergoing as well as your health and fitness. Sometimes the different types of anesthesia are used in combination.

When do you need Anaesthetic?

You will generally need an anaesthetic procedure anytime your doctor feels the need to place you in a state of no pain or needs you immobile.

General Anesthesia

During general anesthesia, you are put into a state of unconsciousness and you will be unaware of anything during the time of your operation.

Your anesthetist will induce anesthesia by giving you a combination of drugs. Usually the first step is to inject medication intravenously through a small plastic tube, placed usually in your arm or hand. An example of a commonly used drug is Propofol or occasionally by breathing gases.

The anesthetist remains with you at all times, monitoring your condition and controlling your anaesthetic, replacing fluid or blood and will reverse the condition after the surgery.

Regional Anesthesia

For regional anesthesia, a local anaesthetic drug is injected around a bundle of nerves so that a part of the body is made numb. The muscles in the limb are paralyzed whilst the drug is acting so that the limb becomes floppy.

You will still be awake and know that the operation is taking place, but often the anesthetist will administer a sedative drug so that you drift off to sleep during the operation.

Examples of regional anesthesia are the use of an epidural for pain relief during childbirth, a spinal for an operation on the bladder, and an eye block for cataract surgery.

Sometimes regional and general anesthesia is combined, particularly for major surgery, to provide pain relief after the operation.

Your anesthetist remains with you throughout the operation under regional anesthesia, monitoring and controlling your anaesthetic state throughout in the same way. Similarly, you will go to the recovery ward afterwards until you are stable and safe to go back to the ward.

Local Anesthesia

In local anesthesia, the local anaesthetic drug is injected into the skin and tissues at the site of the operation. The area of numbness will be restricted and some sensation of pressure may be present, but there should be no pain.

Local anesthesia is more commonly used for minor operations such as stitching a cut or a biopsy.

What are the Risks in Anesthetic Procedures?

Though the anaesthetic procedure is simple, there are still complications that can arise during the procedure.

The more common risks include:

• Vomiting and feeling sick after the surgery - Normally caused by the combination of drugs given during the procedure,
• Dizziness and blurred vision - This is normally due to lower blood pressure,
• Sore throat - May be caused by having a tube in your airways during the procedure,
• Soreness, itchiness, aches and pains after the procedure, and
• Infection of the area of the surgery.

In very rare cases, the procedure can lead to more serious complications and even death especially if the anesthetist is not careful.

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