Compiled in the interest of anaesthetic safety and patient information


YOUR WELL –BEING IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY

THE ANAETHETIST /anaestHESIOLOGIST:

In South Africa an anaesthetic may only be administered by a registered medical doctor who may be a Specialist (anaesthesiologist) or a general Practitioner (GP)

1. All General Practitioners (GP’s) are required to complete a period of supervised anaesthetic training (usually 2 weeks or 40 anaesthetics) prior to registration as a medical doctor.
   
   

2. The DA (SA) is a General Practitioner diploma, which confirms that the doctor with the qualification has undergone 4-6 months of anaesthetic training.
   
   

3. An anaesthesiologist or Specialist anaesthetists first completed the basic medial degree, which qualified him/her as a General Practitioner (GP). After this he/she completed a further 4 years supervised anaesthetic training and a 2-part specialist exam, which qualified him/her as an Anaesthesiologist on a Specialist anaesthetist.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF anaestHESIA

1. Local Anaesthesia – local injection where anaesthesia is confined to one small part of the body
   
   

2. Intravenous sedation with Local Anaesthesia – the patient is drowsy and relaxed, usually with little memory of the procedure
   
   

3. Regional anaesthesia – the sensation from a certain region of the body is interrupted as in an Epidural caesarean section.
   
   

4. General anaesthesia – the patient is unconscious and pain free.

The anaesthesiologist will discuss the preferred options for your procedure and medical condition with you.


BEFORE THE OPERATION: Booking and Planning

Any medical problems and all medications that you are taking should be discussed with the surgeon at the time of booking for surgery. Also ensure that the anaesthesiologist is advised so that the necessary work-up and investigations can be done before surgery. This gives your anaesthesiologists time to plan the anaesthetic and avoids unnecessary delays.


PRE-OPERATIVE FASTING

Adults usually should not take any food or drink any liquids for 6-8 hours before the scheduled surgery. Special instructions for certain conditions and for children apply. They should be discussed beforehand with your surgeon or anaesthesiologist. The reason for this inconvenient period of fasting is to decrease the risk of vomiting and aspiration of food or liquids into your lungs during the anaesthetic


MEDICATIONS AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS

1. Oral medication: In adults routine medication should be taken with small volume of water up to 2 hours before surgery.
   
   
2. Asthmatics should use their pumps as normal and bring these to hospital with them
   
   
3. Diabetics should discuss the management of their diabetes with either the surgeon or anaesthesiologists before admission

AT THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC

Pre Operatively:

1. Anaesthetic consent form: Please insist on completing the consent form and give full details of your medical status. The questionnaire has been designed to assist your anaesthesiologist in gaining a better understanding of any health problems that may affect your anaesthetic. All medical discussion is confidential – mention personal habits such as smoking, recreational drug and alcohol usage.
   
   

2. Preoperative visit: Before surgery you will be seen by the anaesthesiologist who will be conducting your anaesthetic. This is usually in the ward but may take place in the theater reception area.
   
   
3. You may be given pre-medication to help alleviate anxiety
   

IN THE OPERATING THEATER

1. Your heart function, blood pressure and breathing are checked on a continuous basis whilst you are asleep.
   
   
2. In adults sleep is usually induced by means of an intravenous injection. In children the common way of staring the anaesthetic is by administering anaesthetic gas by facemask. If required an intravenous needle is inserted after the child is asleep
   
   
3. The anaesthesiologist will be with you in the theater during the procedure, maintaining and monitoring the anaesthesia.
   
   
4. The anaesthesiologist is also responsible for pain alleviation in the immediate post-operative period.
   

AFTER YOUR OPERATION

You will be transferred to the recovery area. The anaesthesiologist will ensure that you are awake and in a stable condition before discharging you from the recovery area.
In the ward, day case patients may be given something to eat and drink. More serious cases may go to the high care area or will spend more time in the postoperative surgery ward.
If after your surgery you do not feel well or experience excessive pain or nausea do not hesitate to tell the nursing staff. They will administer the medication prescribed by the anaesthesiologist.


GENERAL

Do not drive a motor vehicle, operate dangerous equipment, use any alcohol or makes any important decisions for 24 hours after surgery. If you leave the hospital on the day of surgery see to it that someone else takes you home.


ACCOUNTING AND ADMINISTRATIVE:

Anaesthesiologists are independent private practitioners and our services and fees are separate from those of your surgeon or the hospital.
At the discretion of the attending anaestheiologist the account may be rendered in terms of the tariff structure recommended by the South African Medical Association and may NOT be covered in full by your medical aid. Please note that the responsibility for the account remains with you at all times and the onus is on the patient to enquire as to the rates charged and arrangements for payment
Any medical problems, pre operative food or fluid regime and other queries about your anaesthetic may be discussed with the anasethesiologist involved prior to the day of surgery

Please do not hesitate to contact him/her if you need more information.