With modern anaesthetics and ways of working, the risks are very low. For the vast majority of people, the risks are negligible. However, it’s important that a risk assessment is carried out with the guidance of the information in your health declaration. Some conditions of illness involve increased risks, e.g. heart disease, high blood pressure, being excessively overweight (obesity). The fear that many experience before anaesthesia is usually unfounded and may be due to the loss of control.
Preparations
We want you to review your general state of health and think through the points below before filling in your health declaration. This is important information for us to know so that we can administer safe and secure anaesthesia.
On the day of surgery it’s important to report symptoms of diseases of the respiratory tract, such as fever, cough or breathing difficulties. These conditions can increase the risk of complications connected to anaesthesia.
After all the preparations in the care department, you will receive painkillers and possibly a small cocktail of sedatives. Then a thin plastic tube is inserted into a blood vessel through a needle in the skin. Most often, the blood vessel is n the inside of the elbow or on the back of the hand. A bag containing a saline solution is attached to the inserted tube to replace the fluid you would otherwise have been drinking.
When you come to the operating room, you will be met by a team of trained specialists who will take care of you and go through what will take place. You lie on your back on the operating table, which can feel a little chilly and uncomfortable. Your arms are placed straight out in a special support. A blood pressure cuff is placed around one arm, small sticky patches are placed on the shoulders to trace cardiac activity and a small clamp on one finger to monitor blood oxygenation. Various medicines are injected through the plastic tube directly into the bloodstream and you quickly fall asleep, sometimes with an oxygen mask that rests lightly on your face. Once you are asleep, a plastic tube is inserted through the mouth into the throat to ensure an unblocked airway during the procedure.
Throughout the operation, an anaesthetist or a nurse anaesthetist is by the headboard and monitors, measures and records heartbeat, heart rhythm, blood pressure, respiratory rate, the breath’s volume and its oxygen and carbonic acid (carbon dioxide) content as well as blood oxygen saturation. Since each patient is unique, the choice of anaesthetic is tailored individual, ad the same for the amount given. We use modern, short-acting drugs that go directly into the bloodstream and with little to no side effects such as nausea, for example.
After the procedure is completed, the anaesthetic supply is switched off and you’re returned to your bed, rolled out to the waking section where the monitoring continues until you are fully awake, which can take from 5-30 minutes. Just before you wake up, the tube in your throat is removed. After drinking either water or cola, you’ll be transported up to your room in the ward where we will continue to monitor you and provide pain relief based on your individual needs.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact us at the following email: narkosdoktor@citadellkliniken.com A reply will come within 1-4 days
Fasting, tongue piercings
It is very important that your stomach is empty before anaesthesia. The upper abdomen is relaxed and the protective reflexes in the pharynx go away. The contents of the stomach can thereby reach the throat and mouth and down into the lungs through the trachea. Stomach contents contain acid which, in the worst case, can lead to severe pneumonia with corrosion in the lungs. Different foods come out of the stomach at different speeds.
Liquid stays in the stomach for a shorter period of time than solid food and thus liquid requires a shorter fasting period. Orange juice, yogurt and carbonated soft drinks need longer fasting period than water, apple juice and black coffee.
Fasting also means refraining from smoking, taking snuff, chewing gum or taking throat tablets etc.
Tongue piercings must be removed, without exception, before taking anaesthetics, as otherwise there is a risk of swelling which may block your airway.
Dangers of anaesthesia
With modern anaesthetics and methods, the risks are very low. For the vast majority of people, the risks are negligible. However, it’s important that a risk assessment is carried out with the guidance of the information in your health declaration. Some conditions of illness involve increased risks, e.g. heart disease, high blood pressure, being excessively overweight (obesity). The fear that many experience before anaesthesia is usually unfounded and may be due to the loss of control.
Prior to an operation at Citadellkliniken it’s preferable, but not a requirement, that your weight is within the normal range. We use your BMI as a basis, which is calculated based on your height and weight. The reason for this is that there is an increased risk of complications in the case of extreme obesity.
If you are overweight and still want an operation with us, we can help to plan this. You can book a surgery time and at the same time our coordinators will help with tips and advice on the weight loss you’re planning to do before your surgery. All in order that you get a result that you are truly happy with.
To book a consultation time, call us on 0418-22 000 or 040-30 17 50. You can also find a time and book yourself.
Please note that booking on the web only applies to new visits.