About your anaesthetic

A General Anaesthetic gives a state of controlled unconsciousness where you are asleep and feel nothing.

The main way of starting an anaesthetic is by injecting anaesthetic drugs into a vein through a cannula (a 'drip') in your hand. If this is not possible, you can breathe anaesthetic gases through a mask which make you go to sleep.

Once you are asleep, your anaesthetist will stay with you and continue to give you drugs to keep you asleep, closely monitoring you throughout.

Once the operation is finished the drugs will be stopped and you will wake up soon after.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists have produced many patient information leaflets to tell you all about your anaesthetic. Please click the links below.

Patient information leaflets and video resources | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

You and your anaesthetic | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

If you are having major surgery (surgery followed by care on the High dependency or Intensive care unit) please read the leaflet on the link below.

Your anaesthetic for major surgery with planned high dependency or intensive care afterwards | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

A Local Anaesthetic involves injections that numb a small area of your body. You will be awake but feel no pain.

A Regional Anaesthetic involves injections that numb larger areas of the body such as your legs or an arm.

These include spinal and epidural anaesthesia or a nerve block.

You can choose to stay awake or, if you prefer, drugs that make you sleepy can be given to help you relax.

The patient information leaflets below explain these in a bit more detail - just click on the link. They are part of a series developed by the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
 
Your spinal anaesthetic | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

Epidural anaesthesia during and after surgery | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

Peripheral nerve blocks | The Royal College of Anaesthetists