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© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2017 ÌSWPIÇ~cIÎ Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced communicated or adapted without permission from Queensland Health SWPI9467 To request permission email: [email protected] Department of Health the procedure. surgical procedures. You may remember parts of pain such as colonoscopy, endoscopy, andsmall during procedures that do not involve alot of conscious state sothat you are comfortable Sedation medicines are used to alter your Sedation anaesthetic. also becombined with sedation orageneral stay awake. This typeof anaesthesia can With local andregional anaesthetics you can ointments orinjections. nerves can beeasily reached by drops, sprays, a small partof your body andis used when A local anaesthetic medication is used to numb Local anaesthesia stopping pain afterwards. pain during theoperation, andcan beused for anaesthetics. These techniques are used to stop blocks,nerve caudal, epidural, andspinal able move that partof your body. It includes near major bundles. nerve You may not be your body by local anaesthetic which is injected A regional anaesthetic numbs alarge part of Regional up aftersurgery. throat. The tube is removed as you wake through your mouthornose andinto your and/or abreathing tube which will beplaced gases, theanaesthetist will use aface mask breathed inas gases into thelungs. To give the Medicines are injected into a vein and/or unconscious andpain free during anoperation. as a“GA”)is amixture of medicines to keep you A general anaesthetic (sometimes referred to General anaesthesia of these types of anaesthetic. local anaesthetic, sedation, oracombination general anaesthetic, aregional anaesthetic, a For you surgery/procedure, you may have a including surgery. you may feel when undergoing aprocedure greatly decreases pain andothersensations An anaesthetic is medicine that stops or 1. What is ananaesthetic? It has beendeveloped to beused indiscussion with your doctor orhealthcare professional. This information sheet answers frequently asked questions about having ananaesthetic.

anaesthesia

About your anaesthetic patient information • • • training whowill: Your anaesthetist is adoctor with specialist 3. What does my anaesthetist do? pain during andaftertheoperation. before theoperation to decrease theamount of Sometimes medications for pain relief are given anaesthetics to helpreduce orrelieve anxiety. that may begiven to patients before some A pre-medication (pre-med) is amedicine 2. What is apre-medication? problems. temporary, somemay cause long-term and complications. Whilst these are usually Every anaesthetic has arisk of side effects Modern anaesthesia is generally very safe. anaesthetic? 4. What are therisks of having an according to relevant professional guidelines. training.further All trainees are supervised healthcare professional/student undergoing (particularly inrural areas) oradoctor/ anaesthetist, aGPwith training inanaesthetics You may beseenandcared for by aspecialist • • and pain control agree to aplan with you for your anaesthetic options discuss therisks of suitable anaesthetic surgery orprocedure you thetypeof anaesthetic suitable for your assess your health andthendiscuss with manage blood transfusions if required. after your surgery orprocedure caring for you during your surgery andstraight be responsible for giving your anaesthetic and About youranaesthetic Informed consent: patient information v4.00 09/2017 Page 1 of 4

Department of Health • • Regional anaesthetic • General and/orregional anaesthetic • • • General anaesthetic and/orsedation • • • • All anaesthetics include: Uncommon side effects andcomplications • • Regional anaesthetic • • • • • • • General anaesthetic and/orsedation • • • • • • • • • All anaesthetics include: Common side effects andcomplications anaesthetic? 4. What are therisks of having an low blood pressure. prolonged numbness ortingling damage to teeth, lips andtongue drowsiness blurred vision sore throat older people loss:memory this is more common among emotional distress confusion (delirium)/behavioural disturbance chest infection bladder problems drip sites bruising andsoreness around injection and pain when drugs are injected itching headache shivering dizziness andfeeling faint nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting severe headache. treat this) overdose of medicines (theanaesthetist can permanent insomecases and is usually temporary, however, it may be depends onthe typeof anaesthetic you have damagenerve (paralysis ornumbness): it sleep problems pain muscle your eye): your eyes will usually heal damage to your eyes(e.g. grazes onthefront of your lower body) as anepidural didnot fully block sensation in anaesthetic, orneeding ageneral anaesthetic conscious oraware whilst having a general the anaesthetic does not fully work (e.g. being breathing problems allergic reaction existing medical problems getting worse (continued)

About your anaesthetic patient information • Regional anaesthetic • • General anaesthetic • • • • • • • • • • All anaesthetics Rare anaesthetic? 4. What are therisks of having an • • • • Risks are also increased if you: • • • The risk to you will dependon: consent form before you sign it. these with you. Ensure they are written onthe doctor/healthcare professional will discuss individual condition andcircumstances. Your There may also berisks specific to your 5. What are my specific risks? website: and sedation refer to theQueensland Health epidural, spinal, andchildren’s anaesthesia, complications for local, regional, general, For more specific information onrisks and epidural abscess). and epidural catheter; meningitis; infection (e.g. around injection site emergency treatment raise inbody temperature requiring vision loss andblindness severe harm ordeath (veryrare) seizures (very rare) severe breathing difficulty (very rare) deafness (usually term) short damage with possible paralysis) permanent disability (e.g. permanent nerve stroke cardiac arrest equipment failure leaking of stomach content into lungs serious allergic reaction – – – – – – have thefollowing: are overweight smoke are elderly if your surgery is anemergency. if your surgery takes oralong ashort time how simple orcomplex your surgery is other serious medical conditions. high blood pressure kidney disease disease heart diabetes disease a bad cold orflu, asthma orother chest side effects and www.health.qld.gov.au/consent (continued) complications include: v4.00 09/2017 Page 2of 4

ÌSWPIÇ~cIÎ SWPI9467 ÌSWPIÇ~cIÎ SWPI9467 ÌSWPIÇ~cIÎ SWPI9467 ÌSWPIÇ~cIÎ SWPI9467 Department of Health • • • • • • • • In preparation for your procedure: you are in. nurses will give you good care inthecondition operation is anemergency, your doctors and can beas healthy andfit as possible. If your operation, it is helpful to think about how you As soonas you know that you may behaving an having ageneral anaesthetic? 7. What are my responsibilities before these with your doctor/healthcare professional. have theproposed anaesthetic. Please discuss There may beconsequences if you choose not to proposed anaesthetic? 6. What are therisks of not having the to improve. Smoking cuts down theoxygen in surgery to give your lungs andheart achance Stop smoking as early as possible before your weight safely. anaesthetic. Ask your GPabout losing will reduce many of therisks of having an If you are overweight, losing someweight health. Ask your GPabout exercising safely. to improve your blood circulation andlung Increase your fitness before your procedure operation. as soonas you know that you are having an you could make someimprovement. Dothis problems orhighblood pressure and you think such as diabetes, asthma orbronchitis, heart Visit your GPif you have along-term condition, and turmeric: herbal/alternative medicines, such as fishoil rivaroxaban (Xarelto) orcomplementary/ apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), ticagrelor (Brilinta), ticlopidine (Tilodene), (Effient), dipyridamole (Persantin orAsasantin), clopidogrel (Plavix, Iscover, Coplavix), prasugrel thinning) medicines such as warfarin, aspirin, anaesthetic. before your surgery as these may affect the recreational smoking such as marijuana) Stop taking recreational drugs (this includes before surgery. Do not drink any alcohol 24 hours effect of theanaesthetic medicines. Drink less alcohol, as alcohol may alter the (13 78 48). during andafter anoperation. Phone13 QUIT your blood andincreases breathing problems If you take anticoagulant orantiplatelet (blood

About your anaesthetic patient information • • • On theday of your procedure: having ageneral anaesthetic? 7. What are my responsibilities before • • If you are taking medicines: smoke ordrink alcohol. If you are asmoker ordrink alcohol: your lungs. you vomit, there will benothing to go into to make sure your stomach is empty sothat if operation may bedelayed orcancelled. This is or chew gumafter this timeotherwise your drink. DoNOT eat (including lollies), drink, will betold whento have your last meal and Nothing to eat ordrink – – – – – – – – – you have: Tell your doctor andtheanaesthetist if for advice. If you feel unwell: – – there are someimportant exceptions: should becontinued before anoperation, but thinning medicine. doctor when you can restart theblood medicine before your procedure, ask your if you are asked to stop taking blood thinning without medical advice do NOT stop blood thinning medicines affect your blood clotting should stop taking it before surgery as it may side effects. allergies/intolerances of any typeand diabetic medicines (e.g. insulin) contraceptive pill, antidepressants and/or limited to blood thinning medicines, the supplements; this may include andare not counter medicines, herbal remedies and been taking prescribed and/orover the dental problems false teeth, caps, loose teeth orother problems with anaesthesia had previous problems and/orknown family a drugaddiction stay inhospital is needed illnesses), including if regular treatment ora pressure, infectious diseases, serious health problems (e.g. diabetes, highblood you are taking. supplements to show your anaesthetist what the counter, herbal remedies and medicines, those medicines you buy over take to thehospital all your prescribed about yourmedicines your doctor will provide specific instructions ask your surgeon and/oranaesthetist if you telephone theward/hospital (‘nil by mouth’): you v4.00 09/2017 Page 3 of 4 most medicines (continued) donot

Department of Health • • • own safety during this time: for about 24 hours orsometimes longer. For your A general anaesthetic will affect your judgment 9. Following ageneral anaesthetic • • • • • Some ways of giving pain relief are: you somemedication to help. nausea, or vomiting. They will beable to give effects from theanaesthetic, such as headache, needed. Tell nursing staff if you have any side other medications andextra fluids by adrip, if The anaesthetist will arrange pain relief, any until you are well enoughto go home. ward orday procedure area where you will rest are fully awake. You will thenbereturned to the recovery area will watch you closely until you After thesurgery, thenursing staff inthe involve? 8. What does my anaesthetic recovery – suppositories: – – injections: – – – tablets orpills: sign legal documents withdrawal of money from theATM machine) or do NOT make important decisions (such as implements do NOT operate machinery including cooking other vehicle do NOT drive any typeof car, bike or – local/regional anaesthesia: – – patient-controlled analgesia (PCA): 4–6 hours of pain relief after thesurgery. general anaesthetic giving you around into thewound while you are having the the surgeon often injects local anaesthetic accidental overdose it is programmed insuch away to prevent strong pain relief medicines a button for your dripto give you adose of you control your own pain relief by pressing back passage (rectum) for pain relief are small pellets that are placed into your the skin andwill take 20minutes to work can also begiven into amuscle orunder relief is within afew minutes will usually begiven into a vein andpain these take at least half anhourto work feel sick for these to work you needto beable to eat anddrink andnot used for all types of pain

About your anaesthetic patient information • • • websites: following informationFurther may befound onthe before-after/index.html www.qld.gov.au/health/services/hospital-care/ on theQueensland Health website: and after Information on 10. Useful sources of information • • (continued) 9. Following ageneral anaesthetic? Your local contact details are: 12. Contact us your doctor/healthcare professional. proposed procedure, please talk about this with about your condition, treatment options and/or or any otherinformation you have beengiven information inthis patient information sheet If you donot understand any aspect of the doctor/healthcare professional 11. Questions to ask my (This publication includes text taken from the www.rcoa.ac.uk/patientinfo Royal College of Anaesthetists: of Anaesthetists: Australian andNew Zealand College www.health.qld.gov.au/consent Queensland Health: your surgery. have anadult with you onthefirst night after the anaesthetic medicines substances, orsmoke, as they may react with do NOT drink alcohol, take othermind-altering has not reviewed this as awhole). ‘Anaesthesia explained, 2015’ Royal College of Anaesthetists’ (RCoA) leaflet and Surgical procedures Hospital care: before, during www.anzca.edu.au/patients

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