What sort of Anaesthetic will I have?
The Anaesthetist will discuss with you the types of anaesthetic which are suitable for your operation. Most surgery is carried out under a general anaesthetic, which means that the patient is unconscious throughout the operation. Just before the operation, if you are having a general anaesthetic, you will be taken to a room next to the operating theatre. The Anaesthetist will usually give you an injection which will make you fall asleep quickly and calmly. On some occasions, there may be special reasons for sending a patient to sleep by asking him or her to breathe through a mask With modern anaesthetics, this can be done easily and pleasantly. An increasing number of operations are nowadays performed under regional anaesthesia (for example, spinal or epidural anaesthesia). This means that the site of the operation is numbed by local anaesthesia. You may remain awake but if you wish you can be made sleepy so that you are less aware of what is going on.
