ABOUT ANAESTHETICS

What is an Anaethetist

An anesthetist works closely with your surgeon is to ensure your safest possible passage through your surgical experience. Anaesthetist are specialist doctors. This means that we are medical practitioners who has spent at least 2 years in the hospital system before spending at least 5 further years studying and working exclusively in anaesthesia training. An anaeshetsist is responsible for your medical care during surgery, allowing the surgeon to concentrate on your operation. We look after your heart, lung and brain. We also look after your pain management in the immediate perioperative period, and are responsible for fluid management, this means giving you fluid through your drip until you are eating and drinking.

After the surgery is completed you will be transferred to the recovery ward where the anaesthetist will stay with you until you are safe. The recovery nursing staff will look after you very closely. At this time if you have pain or nausea it can be treated very quickly. You will be transferred to the ward once you are stable and comfortable.

Please tell the nurses if you have any problems such as nausea or headache. The medication will be charted by your anaesthetist already so that the nurse can give it to you promptly.

The first 24 hours after an anaesthetic

Your judgement may be affected by the anaesthetic drugs and pain killers. For 24 hours you must not:

Drive
Operate machinery
Cook
Sign any legal documents