These are questions for you to ask your anaesthetist before your operation, although you may not want to use them all.
Choice of anaesthetic
- Do I have a choice about the type of anaesthetic I will have ?
- Do I have to have a general anaesthetic, or can I have the procedure done under a local anaesthetic or a regional anaesthetic ?
- What are the risks and complications with each type of anaesthetic that I can have for this procedure ?
- What can I do to prevent or minimise these risks and complications ?
- Does my condition make me more likely to suffer any complications from the anaesthetic ?
Before the anaesthetic
- Do I have to have any tests ?
- Do I need a sedative
- the night before the operation ?
- the day of the operation ?
- What should I do about my medication ?
- are there any I should not take ?
- when should I take them ?
- When should I stop:
- eating solid food ?
- drinking clear liquids ?
- Can I leave
- my dentures / bridge work in ?
- my hearing aid in ?
- my glasses on ?
- my underwear on ?
- Can my family come with me to the Operating Room ?
In the operating room
- What will I see, hear and feel in the Operating Room ?
- Who will be looking after me ?
- If I have a regional anaesthetic, then can I have sedative drugs during the operation ?
- If I have a regional anaesthetic, do I have to have sedative drugs during the operation ?
- How long will I be there ?
In the recovery room
- What will I see, hear and feel in the recovery room ?
- Will I be sick ?
- How can this be treated ?
- Will I be in pain ?
- How can this be treated ?
- How long will I be there ?
- Can my family see me ?
On the ward
- How will I feel when I get back to the ward ?
- Will I be sick ?
- How can this be treated ?
- Will I be in pain ?
- How can this be treated ?
- When can I have something
At home
- When can I go home ?
- Will I need to take any tablets or other medications after the anaesthetic ?
- If yes, then will these medications have any side effects ?
- What can I do to avoid or minimise these ?
- Will I have any limitations to what I can do after my anaesthetic ?
- When can I go back to work or to school ?