The anaesthetist is responsible for pre-medication before the surgery, your anaesthesia and wellbeing during surgery and your post-operative pain relief.
Ask your surgeon if you can meet with the anaesthetist before the day of the procedure. This way you won’t be hurried or stressed and can be involved in the planning.
Pre-medication
The anaesthetist may offer you medication before the surgery. This could be to prevent nausea, reduce stomach acid or help you relax. If you think you’ll be feeling anxious, ask if you can have something to relax you.
During surgery
For weight loss surgery, general anaesthetic is normally used.
That means you’ll be unconscious for your procedure and have a tube inserted into your throat to help you breathe. You may wake up with a sore throat from the tube. General anaesthetics can cause post-operative nausea and vomiting. You may also have local anaesthetic for pain relief after surgery.
Having a high BMI increases the risks associated with general anaesthesia.
Pain relief after surgery
After surgery, you’ll be given pain relief. By enabling you to move and breathe without too much discomfort, good pain relief can help reduce your risk of complications.
Most patients only require tablets for analgesia but occasionally patient-controlled analgesia may be used in the first day or so. This is an opiate drug delivered through a cannula into a vein. You can control the amount of pain relief you receive by pressing a button.
Print this page to take when you meet with your surgeon and anaesthetist, so you can make sure all your questions are answered.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Information is provided by HCF in good faith for the convenience of members. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of any form of treatment nor is it a substitute for medical advice, and you should rely on the advice of your treating doctors in relation to all matters concerning your health. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however HCF takes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or other consequences of the use of this information.