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FAQs

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We've included some information below about anaesthesia, along with some video links provided by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. If you still have questions, call our friendly team at the office for more information, or to be put through to someone who can help.

What is Anaesthesia?

You are given an anaesthetic when you have surgery so you do not feel pain during the operation.

There are different types of anaesthesia depending on the type of surgery you are having and any underlying health problems you may have. These types of anaesthesia may be used individually or in combination depending on your particular situation.

The anaesthesia will be delivered to you by your specially trained anaesthetist.

There are three main parts to your anaesthetic care. These include the preoperative assessment, the anaesthetic for the surgery and post-operative care in the recovery room and beyond.

Preoperative assessment

You will be asked to fill in a health questionnaire before coming to the hospital or operating facility. This is reviewed by your anaesthetist and will be discussed with you on the day of surgery. Your anaesthetist may contact you before your surgery date and possibly arrange to meet face to face if this is necessary.

Your anaesthetist may want to access your medical records for more information, or arrange for you to have certain tests before your surgery.

Your Anaesthetist:

Delivery of anaesthesia is a highly specialised area of medicine. It takes at least thirteen years training to become an anaesthetist; six years of medical school, at least two years working in the hospital and then a further five years of specialist training.

In Australasia this is coordinated through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA).

In addition to the training, anaesthetists continue to take part in educational programs to ensure they provide current best practice and that you receive the highest level of care.

You will meet your anaesthetist on the day of surgery or if required, they will make contact with you before your surgery date and even see you in person if necessary. They will discuss your care and treatment plan so that you are part of a shared decision making process before asking you to sign the consent form for the anaesthetic.

What Happens in the Operating Room:

In some circumstances you may be given medications prior to coming to the operating room. Once you are in theatre, a final check will be made to confirm your name, date of birth and hospital number. They will check your procedure and the consent form and any important aspects of your health, including any allergies.

Once this is complete, monitors will be applied to measure your vital signs throughout the procedure.

Often you will be given pure oxygen to breath before you go to sleep. Your anaesthetist will be present with you throughout your procedure to monitor and adjust your anaesthetic as necessary and to watch out for any emergencies. The anaesthetist may administer intravenous fluids to help with your heart and bodily functions. Blood and blood products may be required to be administered if there is excessive blood loss during and after surgery or to help with problems with blood clotting but will only usually be given if absolutely necessary.

What Happens After the Surgery

When your operation is over, you will be taken to a special area to recover from your anaesthetic. Once you are awake, comfortable and your vital signs are stable, you will be able to be discharged home or transferred to the ward, depending on your procedure. In specialised situations you may be transferred to a High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring.

The anaesthesia and pain medicine you receive can affect your reflexes, judgement and coordination. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will tell you what you can do after surgery - but as a general rule you should not drive, make any important decisions or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours. If you are going home on the day of surgery, you'll need a friend or relative to pick you up and be with you overnight.

What is General Anaesthesia?

Sometimes general anaesthesia is thought of as “putting someone to sleep” but it is a very different process to how you would go to sleep normally. General anaesthesia is when you are placed in a state of carefully controlled unconsciousness by the use of anaesthesia medications so that you are totally unaware and pain free during the surgical procedure. Throughout this time, you are closely monitored to minimise the risk of any problems whilst you are having the procedure completed.

What is Regional Anaesthesia?

This is where a nerve or group of nerves will be made numb using local anaesthetic medication to block the pain experience from the part of the body being operated on. This includes blocks to stop pain during eye surgery and also spinal and epidural anaesthetics for hip or knee surgery or a Caesarean section procedure. You may be wide awake, but pain free from the surgery. Your anaesthetist may administer some sedative medication to help you feel more relaxed. Regional anaesthesia blocks may also be used in conjunction with a general anaesthetic as well.

On occasion, your anaesthetist may place a catheter near the nerves so you can receive ongoing pain relief well beyond the surgery, to help with the recovery from your operation.

Your anaesthetist will discuss with you the pros and cons of these techniques as part of your consent process.

What is Sedation?

Sedation is when medications are administered to help you feel relaxed and reduce any distress during what would otherwise be an unpleasant procedure.

Why is it Important Not to Eat or Drink before your Anaesthetic?

If contents from your stomach go into your lungs during the anaesthetic, this can cause serious complications. It is important to follow the fasting instructions given to you by the hospital, operating facility or your anaesthetist and surgeon. For your safety, your procedure may be postponed or deferred if these instructions have not been followed.

In general, solid foods, including chewing gum, should not be consumed in the 6 hours prior to your anaesthetic.

Water can be consumed up to two hours prior to surgery.

These guidelines may be altered in certain disease conditions.

For children, breast milk may be given up to 3 hours before surgery. Children should not eat solid food for six hours before surgery, unless you are told otherwise.

and no solid food for 6 hours before surgery unless otherwise specified.

Are there Any Risks Associated with having an Anaesthetic?

Every procedure and anaesthetic is associated with theoretical risks, even if you are fit and healthy. This is true for many other activities in life. Your anaesthetist will be monitoring you very carefully to detect any issues that might arise during your anaesthetic and immediately deal with any problems should they arise.

It is not uncommon to experience some side effects from your anaesthetic.

These may include such things as, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, sore throat, amnesia, muscle aches and stiffness, headache, confusion, itching, shivering and post-operative pain. These are usually self-limiting or can be easily managed.

More serious events, such as an allergic reaction to medications, or issues related to your heart and breathing systems, are far less common but much more dangerous to your health. This is why your anaesthetist will be closely observing you throughout your procedure. The risks can depend on a number of things. These include, the type of surgery you are having and also any health issues you may have, and medication you may be taking. Your anaesthetist will have an in-depth discussion about the risks and benefits of the anaesthetic plan before you consent to the anaesthetic. This is an important time to bring up any questions and specific concerns you may have regarding your anaesthetic.

Do I take my Medications on the Day of an Operation?

It is important that your anaesthetist knows exactly what medication you are taking, including any prescribed and over the counter medications, herbal medications and supplements, and recreational drugs.

In general, you should continue to take your regular prescribed medication prior to surgery, with a small amount of water. Your surgeon or anaesthetist will advise you of any changes.

Specific advice will be given to you regarding blood thinning medication and diabetic medication, based on the medication you are taking and the nature of your operation. Some of these medications may need to be withheld for a period of time before your surgery. A clear plan to manage these medications should be discussed with your surgeon, anaesthetist, and other medical specialists as necessary, to reduce the risk of any problems occurring during or after your surgery.

It can be useful to bring a list of the medications you are on or bring the medications themselves to the hospital or clinic where you are having your surgery, in case they need to be checked.

What can I do to Prepare for my Surgery?

It is important that you ensure that your medical conditions are optimally managed with your regular doctor or relevant specialists, including dental care. Blood tests may be required before your surgery. Other investigations that may be required before surgery, as advised by your surgeon or anaesthetists. These tests are to ensure that we have all the relevant information we need so we can give you the best possible care for your anaesthesia. Your safety is our priority.

Smoking

Smoking can be associated with increased risks of complications during, and after your surgery. Stopping smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery can minimise these risks. Stopping at least 24 hours prior to your surgery can also be beneficial.

Alcohol

It is preferred that no alcohol be consumed in the 24 hours prior to surgery to minimise any interactions with your anaesthetic.

How will my Pain be Managed?

Having good pain relief after your surgery is an important part of your recovery. Your anaesthetist will discuss the pain management strategy relating to your particular procedure with you. Often this will be through a combination of medications given before, during and after your operation. Pain relief may also include the use of local anaesthetic in the area being operated on, or a nerve or regional local anaesthetic block. Specialised pain relief devices may be used, which your anaesthetist will discuss with you. The aim is to give you safe pain relief with minimal or no side effects. Normally many of the side effects can be easily managed.

Breast Feeding

In general terms, especially if you have a healthy baby, breast feeding should not have to be interrupted around the time of surgery. Small quantities of many medications can get into the breast milk but not enough to cause any major difficulties in a healthy baby. It is fine to try and feed your baby close to the time of your surgery. Once you are awake and can safely hold your baby, you can commence breast feeding. With some ongoing pain relief after your surgery, it is important to monitor your baby for any behavioural changes or increased sleepiness. Most of the common medications used in the anaesthetic are the same as those used in anaesthetising infants as well. There are some medications that may have more of an effect on the baby, which can be easily avoided and not be part of your anaesthetic plan. These issues will be discussed with you by your anaesthetist.

Fees and Payments

Anaesthetic fees are separate to other payments that may be required for your surgery. They may be separate from surgeons, specialists and hospital charges.

There are many different ways in which your anaesthetic fee may be calculated and funded. If you do receive an estimate for anaesthetic services, remember that due to many factors, the final fee may vary from this.

If you have medical insurance, then you will usually be required to obtain prior approval for the procedure from your health insurance company. Policies can vary, depending on the type of cover you have. In some circumstances, your insurance may cover part of your procedure and there may be a part that you need to cover yourself. Prior approval may not be necessary if you are covered under an affiliated provider programme.

The actual anaesthetic fee can be calculated in several different ways. Commonly, the fee may be based on the type of surgery you are having, how long the anaesthesia care takes and other modifying factors based on your medical problems, the level of care your anaesthesia involves and pre-operative assessment and postoperative care. These fees are usually based on the billing structure determined by the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists, Relative Value Guide. Fees may also vary between individual anaesthetists.

If your surgery or procedure is covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation), or by an affiliated provider programme, the anaesthetic fee may be provided by ACC or the hospital provider and you may not be directly invoiced for the service received.

If you are funding the procedure yourself, you may be asked for a prepayment prior to the surgery. Adjustments will be made after your procedure if the final figure is different. In some cases, there may be more to pay and in other cases you may receive a refund.

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