General anaesthesia

What is General Anaesthesia?

General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness during which you feel nothing.

Your anaesthetist will meet you before your operation and will:

• Discuss with you which types of anaesthetic can be used and their risks and benefits
• Decide with you which anaesthetic would be best for you

What are the risks associated with a General Anaesthetic?

• Sore throat: About 40% people develop a sore throat after general anaesthesia. This usually resolves when you start to eat and drink.
• Dental injury: Around 1 in 4500 people have dental damage from the tube insertion.
• Nausea and vomiting: About 1 in 3 people feel sick after a general anaesthetic. You will be given anti-sickness medications routinely as part of your anaesthetic.
• Awareness: Most studies suggest that around 1 person per 1,000 patients under anaesthetic experience some kind of awareness. The anaesthetist will monitor your vital signs continuously while you are under the general anaesthetic.
• Serious Complications: Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction to the anaesthetic (occurring in less than one for every 10,000 anaesthetics). Death is very rare (approximately 1 per 100,000 general anaesthetics)

All procedures have associated risks. Sight and life-threatening complications can occur but are extremely rare. You can discuss specific concerns with your surgeon or anaesthetist.

Will I receive adequate pain relief?

Good pain relief is important, and it is administered as part of the anaesthetic so that you are comfortable after the operation. It prevents suffering and it helps you recover more quickly. Your anaesthetist will probably discuss different pain-relief methods with you before your surgery so you can make an informed decision about which will suit you best. Extra pain relief can be given when you wake up.

For more information on your anaesthetic please follow this link.

Author: Dr. S. Vijayan, Consultant Anaesthetist 

Review date: July 2028