Your check-up before an operation
Before a planned operation, the anaesthetist asks about your health, medicines, allergies and any previous anaesthetics, and may ask for tests. They explain which type of anaesthesia suits your operation and what to expect.
Types of anaesthesia
- General anaesthesia: you are fully asleep during the operation
- Spinal or regional anaesthesia: part of the body is numbed while you stay awake or lightly sedated
- Local anaesthesia: a small area is numbed for a minor procedure
What we can help with
- A check-up before your operation
- Anaesthesia during surgery
- Pain relief after an operation
Before your operation
Follow the fasting instructions you’re given exactly; eating or drinking too close to an anaesthetic isn’t safe. Bring a list of your medicines, and tell the anaesthetist about any allergies or problems with past anaesthetics.