All about anaesthesia
Many people experience an anaesthetic at some point in their lives and it is normal to have some questions or feel nervous. On this page, you’ll find more information about anaesthesia and anaesthetists.
Anaesthesia is very safe. It allows a patient to be comfortable during their surgery. Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are highly trained to deliver anaesthesia and help look after you before, during, and after your surgery.
This information is meant as a general guide only. It does not replace individual medical advice given by your healthcare providers. You should always ask your healthcare team If there is anything you’re unsure about.
What is anaesthesia or an anaesthetic?
About 250,000 surgical procedures are carried out with anaesthesia in Aotearoa New Zealand each year.
Anaesthesia allows a patient to be comfortable during their operation, whether this is unconscious (like with a general anaesthesia), numb (like with local anaesthesia), or a combination. Modern anaesthesia is very safe and modern surgery would not be possible without it.
‘Anaesthetic’ is the term used for the medications that can produce anaesthesia. It can also be used to describe the whole process that patients undergo when having surgical and other medical procedures. People often describe ‘anaesthesia’ as being ‘put to sleep’. This is not strictly true: in ‘general anaesthesia’, anaesthetists place their patients into a state of carefully controlled unconsciousness so that they will be unaware and not feel pain.
Anaesthetists are the specialist doctors who give an anaesthetic. Sometimes they are also known as Anaesthesiologists. You can read more about Anaesthetists on our who are anaesthetists page here.
Are there different types of anaesthetic?
There are four main types of anaesthetic:
- General anaesthetic: puts a patient into a state of unconsciousness throughout an operation.
- Local anaesthetic: causes numbness to only the site of surgery.
- Regional anaesthetic: uses a local anaesthetic to block major nerve pathways to an area of the body where surgery is to take place.
- Monitored sedation: this is when certain medications are used to keep a patient comfortable and drowsy. It describes a range of approaches, from light through to deep sedation. The patient breathes for themselves and is usually alert enough to answer questions.
The type of anaesthetic an anaesthetist will use depends on the patient and their surgical needs. The anaesthetist will consider the type of surgery you are having, as well as your personal medical history, and what the scientific information recommends based on studies of other patients.
How safe is anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia is safer than it has ever been. It is regarded as one of the safest medical interventions and modern surgery wouldn’t be possible without it.
However, major complications can still happen, including the risk of dying. Statistically, the chance of death during an operation due to anaesthetic complications depends on the patient’s age and health. Complications are more likely in the very young and elderly and increase with obesity and smoking. For a fit patient who is under 60 years of age, the chances of dying due to an anaesthetic complication is approximately 1 in 1,000,000. The statistics for a person over 60 undergoing anaesthesia depends on other conditions.
Other very rare anaesthetic complications include a heart attack, stroke, major nerve damage, brain dysfunction, organ failure, allergic reaction and reawakening during a procedure.
Your anaesthetist or hospital will give you information before your operation or procedure. They may ask you to meet with your anaesthetist to answer some questions, fill in a questionnaire, or attend a pre-admission clinic.
Your choice and consent
Yes, absolutely. The anaesthetist will discuss options with you and will usually recommend an approach. A final plan will be made in partnership with you. You can involve anyone from your whānau, family and friends in this discussion.
It is important that you have time to have fully informed consent to all procedures. If at any time you want to change that consent, or discuss your options more, you can mention to this to any member of the team providing care for you, including your anaesthetist.
Frequently asked questions
The New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA) publishes an information leaflet called Your anaesthetic. This leaflet is for doctors and hospitals to share information with patients about anaesthesia as part of the informed consent process.
Hospitals can purchase the ‘Your anaesthetic’ leaflet from the NZSA. There is a recovery cost involved. For any enquiries about this leaflet please email Deanna Smit at deannasmit@anaesthesia.nz.