Before Your Operation
When it is time for your surgery a porter will collect you from your ward and transport you to the operating suite on your bed, or a trolley. The nurse who is caring for you on the ward, or another ward nurse, will accompany you. Upon your arrival in the operating suite, the anaesthetic nurse will ask you some questions about your health, allergy status, proposed operation and other questions that it is important for the surgical team to know. You may feel that you have been asked these questions several times before, but please remember it is for your own safety and to provide the best care possible that we ask you again! During the patient check in the nurse will verify your identity, ensure that your consent form has been signed and that you understand the procedure you are about to undergo. S/He will also ask you the last time you had anything to eat or drink and any allergies you may have. Don't forget to mention any food allergies you may have no matter how irrelevant you may think they are. It is important that you answer these questions honestly and as completely as possible as your answers will help to determine the best drugs to use for your anaesthetic and surgery.
There may be other questions depending on the type of surgery you are having. This is also a time when the perioperative nurse can review your notes and perform his/her own assessment to make sure your individual needs are met. Please do not hesitate to ask questions or express any concerns you may have about your impending surgery.
When the patient check in procedure is complete the anaesthetic nurse will escort you to the anaesthetic waiting room. The anaesthetic waiting room is adjacent to the operating room where your surgery will be performed. Whilst in here the anaesthetist will come and greet you. The anaesthetic nurse will be available if you have any concerns or needs during your wait in this area. The anaesthetist, or anaesthetic nurse may insert an intravenous cannula into your arm so that some drugs to help you relax can be given. The anaesthetic nurse will attach some monitoring equipment to you so that your vital signs can be monitored during surgery. If you have any concerns during your wait, the anaesthetic nurse, surgeon and anaesthetist are available to answer your questions. When the operating room and staff are ready you will be moved in and transferred across onto the operating table.
During the Operation
It depends on the type of anaesthetic you have, whether you will be asleep, or fully anaesthetised during your procedure. The anaesthetist and surgeon will discuss the different types of anaesthesia, and which type is suitable for your surgery, and, most importantly, for you, before the procedure. There is an explanation about the different types of anaesthesia further down the page.
During your procedure you will be cared by the anaesthetist, anaesthetic nurse, instrument nurse, surgeon, and circulating nurse. There may also be an anaesthetic registrar and surgical registrar assisting the surgical team. All of the team are there to ensure that you have a safe and uneventful surgical and anaesthetic procedure. On completion of the surgery, the anaesthetist and anaesthetic nurse will ensure that you are stable and able to be transferred to Post Acute Care Unit.
After Your Operation
Once you are transferred to the Post Acute Care Unit, the nurses will receive a handover report from the anaesthetist and nurse about you, and how the surgical procedure went. The Post Acute Care Unit nurse will closely monitor your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, breathing and pain level. They will ensure that you are warm and comfortable and explain to you what is happening and how you are. You may not remember much about your time in the Post Acute Care Unit, but be assured that a nurse will be with you at all times.
Once you are comfortable, your vital signs are stable, there are no indications of complications from the surgery, and your pain is controlled, the PACU nurse will organise for the ward nurse to come and collect you. The ward nurse will receive a report about you and your surgery, and how you are. The ward nurse and the porter will then transport you back to the ward.
Anaesthesia
Types of Anaesthesia:
- General Anaesthesia
- Regional Anaesthesia
- Local Anaesthesia
- Intravenous Sedation
General Anaesthesia
A general anaesthetic is a deep and controlled sleep that the anaesthetist controls by giving medications or gases. A general anaesthetic ensures that you are fully asleep, and do not experience any pain or feeling during the surgery.
The anaesthetist, or anaesthetic nurse, will insert an intravenous cannula (drip) into your arm. The anaesthetist will then inject the anaesthetic drugs into the drip tubing. This will make you go to sleep in a slow and controlled manner. You will then be kept asleep by breathing a special mixture of gases through a tube that has been placed into the mouth, and down the throat, and into the lungs.
The anaesthetist and anaesthetic nurse will stay with you and monitor your condition throughout the surgery and when you wake up.
Regional Anaesthesia
This includes both spinal and epidural anaesthesia. An epidural anaesthetic involves inserting a fine plastic tube called an epidural catheter, into the space surrounding the spinal cord (epidural space). The anaesthetist inserts the catheter before your operation. Anaesthetising, or numbing, drugs are then administered via this catheter. The epidural catheter may be left in place for several days to allow for pain relief after your operation.
A spinal anaesthetic is similar, but a catheter is not left inserted.
With regional anaesthesia you may be also be given a medication to make you drowsy and relaxed. Sometimes, depending on the type of surgery, a general anaesthetic will be given as well.
Local Anaesthesia
Local anaesthesia involves the injection of an anaesthetic drug into the skin, or tissues, around the area to be operated on. This type of anaesthesia is used for minor procedures and is similar to what your dentist uses. The local anaesthetic drug used numbs the area completely. Sometimes a local anaesthetic is injected during the surgery to reduce the amount of pain felt after an operation.
Intravenous Sedation
This type of anaesthetic is used for minor procedures when the patient does not need to be fully unconscious, but comfortable enough for the procedure to be performed. The sedative drugs are injected into the drip tubing to keep you asleep and unaware.
