Questions and answers about anaesthetics

Anaesthetics

What is an anaesthetic?

Anaesthesia `Ann nays theez ee yah', means the absence of all sensation, especially pain. In general anaesthesia , the patient is asleep and is not aware of pain or any other bodily sensation. In local anaesthesia, loss of sensation and pain is limited to one particular part of the body and the patient is usually wide awake throughout the whole procedure. Anaesthetist `Ann nees thut ist', is a highly qualified doctor, who has specialised in this area of medicine. The anaesthetist (light heartedly referred to as the `gas man') will examine you and talk to you in the ward before your operation to make sure that you are fit for surgery and not allergic to any anaesthetics or medications. He should reassure you over any problems that may be concerning you. The anaesthetist is responsible for `putting you to sleep' and maintaining a good level of anaesthesia throughout your operation.

Following your operation, he will ensure that you fully recover from the effects of the anaesthetic, and that you are are in good health before being returned to the ward. He is responsible for you before, during and after your operation.

Anaesthetic `Ann nays thettik', is the drug (be it injection or gas) used to produce unconsciousness. You are usuallly `put to sleep' with an injection into a vein on the back of your hand. The drug most commonly used is `Thiopentone Sodium.' This is the one that has you asleep " before you can count to ten". Once asleep, you will breathe anaesthetic gases such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas), halothane, isoflurane or enflurane via a face mask. These gases keep you asleep and free from pain whilst the surgeon performs his work. The anaesthetic is timed to wear off as soon as the surgeon finishes. You will then receive painkillers to control any post operative pain.

What is a pre-med?

This is a drug that is given to you before your operation to relax you, and sometimes to reduce saliva and mucus that might collect in the airways whilst you are `asleep', and so affect your breathing ability.

I'm due to have an operation, and I am very worried abuot having a general anaesthetic. I've heard of people being aware of everything throughout their operation, and being in agony, because they were not properly anaesthetised. Do I need to be so apprehensive?

With modern anaesthetic techniques it is extremely unlikely that this type of horrific experience could happen nowadays . In the past, this type of story was not common but was always remembered, because it was such a frightening and amazing story to hear!

Sometimes the patient is given a muscle relaxant drug before their operation, so that the surgeon, for example, can get access to the abdominal organs more easily. The patient then is inadvertantly given only oxygen instead of the anaesthetic gas, so that the patient ends up on the operating table paralysed but not asleep! In other words, they are aware of everything that is going on around them. They recall the words said by the surgeons, but more importantly, they remember the excruciating pain felt throughout the whole procedure!! Because they were paralysed by the muscle relaxant drugs they were totally incapable of signalling to anyone the torment that they were going through!!

Let me reassure you that, today, this situation is a very, very rare occurence indeed. Thanks to modern technology, the anaesthetist can detect inadequate anaesthesia by changes in the patient's pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, eye movements, saliva production, temperature, sweating and even gas levels in the blood. Modern anaesthetic equipment will automatically sound alarms for everyone in the operating theatre to hear if any untoward changes occur in the patients body.

Nevertheless, if I feel that I have had such an horrendous experience, what should I do?

If you honestly feel that you were not adequately anaesthetised, either discuss the matter more fully with your surgeon or GP, or report the matter in writing by making a formal complaint to the Hospital Secretary or Hospital Manager of the hospital concerned, giving full details of the date and time of your operation and any information remembered from your time `under the anaesthetic'. If you feel a claim is justified discuss this with your local citizens advice bureau or your own solicitor.

IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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