What is general anaesthetic?
A general anaesthetic is a combination of drugs that produce deep sleep. It is used for operations and procedures and it causes a loss of sensation. You will not be aware of what is happening and afterwards you won't rememeber anything that has happened.
The general anaesthetic will be given to you by an anaesthetist (doctor trained in anaesthesia).Your anaesthetists is usually assited by a specially trained healthcare practitioner.
What is a spinal anaesthetic?
A spinal anaesthetic (or spinal) involves injecting local anaesthetics and other pain killers into the subarachnoid space (an area near your spinal cord). This numbs your nerves to give pain relief in certain areas of your body.
A spinal can be used either on its own or while you are awake, or together with sedation or a general anaesthetic. A spinal can also be used after an operation or procedure to give effective pain relief.
The spinal will be given to you by an anaesthetist (doctor trained in anaesthesia).Your anaesthetists is usually assited by a specially trained healthcare practitioner.
Before you are given an anaesthetic, the healthcare team will attach some monitors to you that measure your blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in your blood. If you need oxygen, they will give it to you through a mask or small tube under your nostrils.
Pain relief after surgery
After your operation the healthcare teams wants you to be as comfortable as possible. There are various types of pain relief avalable that you may be offered. Although none of them are guaranteed to make you absoloutley pain-free, they should help you to not be in pain after the operation.
Before the operation the healthcare team or the anaesthetist (doctor trained in anaesthesia) will be able to tell you which forms of pain relief are suggested for you. However, it is your decision on the forms of pain relief you use.