About anaesthesia

You will need anaesthesia in connection with an operation, treatment or examination. There are four types of anaesthesia:

• General anaesthesia
• Nerve block
• Spinal anaesthesia
• Sedation

You will be invited to a consultation with an anaesthesiologist prior to the procedure. The anaesthesiologist will ask about your health and medical history. You will also be asked about any medication, herbal medicines or food supplements you may be taking, as you may need to stop taking certain medications/supplements in the time up to your procedure. Please bring your medication list to the consultation. You and your anaesthesiologist will together decide which type of anaesthesia is right for you and the procedure you will be undergoing. The anaesthesiologist will be happy to answer any questions you may have about anaesthesia.

Sometimes you will not meet the anaesthesiologist until you are in the operating theatre. If you feel anxious about the anaesthesia or if you have any questions, you are welcome to ask for a consultation with the anaesthesiologist ahead of time.

Watch a video (in Danish) about anaesthesia at www.bispebjerghospital.dk/film-om-bedoevelse or hold your smartphone camera over this QR code:

Types of anaesthesia

General anaesthesia

You will be asleep for the procedure. The medication will be administered through an IV drip in your arm or hand. We might place a plastic tube down your throat. For some procedures, an epidural catheter will be placed in your back prior to anaesthesia. The catheter can be used to treat pain both during and after the procedure.

Nerve block

A nerve block is used to numb a small area of your body, for example an arm or foot. The anaesthesiologist will inject a local anaesthetic around the nerve using a thin needle. The anaesthesia will ensure you do not feel any pain during the procedure and will relieve pain for up to 24 hours after the procedure. You will be awake during the procedure and be able to feel pressure on your skin or if anything touches your skin.

Spinal anaesthesia

Spinal anaesthesia is used to numb your lower body or legs. The anaesthesiologist will use a thin needle to inject a local anaesthetic in your back while you are in a seated position or lying on your side with your back curved. You will be awake during a spinal anaesthesia. However, it can be combined with a small dosage of sleep medication, so you doze off during the procedure. In some cases we will place a catheter in your back to provide pain-relieving medication during the procedure and in the following days.

Sedation

Sedation is used to help you relax or sleep during an procedure. You will be given a small amount of sedative and pain-relieving medicine to help you relax or fall asleep. Whether you simply relax or fall asleep depends on the amount of medicine we give you. In most cases, you will receive the medicine through an IV drop in your arm or hand. We often combine sedation with an epidural or nerve block. However, sedation can be used on its own. Even though you will be awake during the procedure, it is unlikely that you will be able to remember what happened in the operating theatre. During the procedure, the anaesthesia team will sit beside you and make sure that you are okay.

Important preparation

Fasting

You must be fasting before anaesthesia. This means that:

• You must stop eating six hours before your procedure.
• You must stop drinking dairy products and juice with pulp six hours before the procedure. Do not use milk in your coffee or tea.
• You must stop drinking cold or hot liquids two hours before the procedure. We recommend a large glass of a sweet beverage as the last thing you drink. The sugar in the drink helps counteract nausea and discomfort.

You will have to take special precautions if you have diabetes. We will discuss this with you.

Take your medication as usual

You can continue taking any medication ahead of the procedure unless you have agreed otherwise with a doctor. You can drink a little water to take the medication, even if you are fasting. You will have to take special precautions if you have diabetes. Contact the doctor or department that referred you to talk about what you need to do.

Remove make up, nail polish and jewellery

During the procedure, we will place a device on one of your fingers to measure the oxygen levels in your blood. Remove any nail polish or fake nails prior to the procedure. Do not put on any make up before you leave for the hospital. Take off your watch, jewellery and piercings and leave them at home. You are responsible for the things you bring with you to hospital. In general, the hospital does not replace lost or stolen items.

Bring hearing aids, dentures or glasses

You can bring along dentures, hearing aids or glasses if you use them.

Be prepared for waiting time

You are welcome to bring a book, a magazine or other entertainment to the hospital to help pass the time if there are delays.

Bring your own music

You are welcome to bring headphones/earbuds so you can listen to music via your phone or tablet during the procedure.

At the hospital

We will get you ready for the procedure

We will make sure you receive any medicine you need prior to the procedure. For example a sedative, pain reliever or medicine to prevent nausea.

Leave your valuables in your room

Leave your things in a locked cupboard in your room during the procedure. You can bring glasses, hearing aids and dentures with you to the surgery ward. You can also bring along headphones/earbuds to listen to music via your phone or tablet. You can also bring your inhaler or angina medication to the surgery ward. If you use contact lenses, you will need to remove them before the procedure.

Anaesthesia

The anaesthesia team will greet you when you arrive at the surgery ward. An IV drip will be placed in your hand or arm so you can receive fluids and medicine. You will also be hooked up to equipment to monitor your heart rhythm and blood pressure so we can keep an eye on how you are doing during the procedure. The anaesthesiologist will then put you to sleep. While you are asleep, the anaesthesia team will sit beside you and make sure that you are doing well and that the anaesthesia is working correctly. If you were placed under general anaesthesia, you will be woken up in the operating room once the procedure is over.

Recovery

Most patients will be taken to a recovery ward after the procedure. If you were only under an anaesthetic for a brief period, you might be taken back to you room directly. In the recovery ward, you will be monitored and given pain-relieving or anti-nausea medication if needed.
You can expect to be tired and in need of rest, but you may agree with the staff on the ward to receive visitors for brief visits. However, be considerate of other patients on the ward who may need quiet and privacy as they recover.
You will be informed about how the procedure went once you are back in your own room. Staff in the recovery ward will not be familiar with the details of your procedure.

Let staff know if you are in pain

We will use a pain scale to determine how much pain you are in. People experience pain differently, so it is important that you let us know if you are in pain. The pain should be bearable, so that you are able to take deep breaths and move around in bed a little.

Important precautions for the first 24 hours

You will need to take some precautions during the first 24 hours after being under anaesthesia. Remember:

• do not be alone
• do not drive a car or other vehicle
• do not operate machinery
• do not drink alcohol.

If no one can stay with you, we recommend that you at least have someone to call should you need help.

Possible side effects

Anaesthesia is very safe. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Minor side effects are more common but they do not last very long and can be treated if necessary. Side effects of anaesthesia are:

• Soreness in your mouth and throat: If you had a tube inserted in your windpipe (trachea) during anaesthesia, then your mouth and throat may feel a bit sore when you wake up. This is very common and will go away on its own.
• Nausea: Some patients become nauseated and vomit after anaesthesia. We can give you medication to prevent nausea if you need it.
• Itching: Pain-relieving medicine can in some cases cause itching. However, it rarely needs to be treated.
• Problems urinating: In rare cases you may have trouble urinating once you get home. Contact your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if this happens to you.
• Trouble with memory: Elderly patients in particular might have trouble with memory just after anaesthesia. Your memory will almost always improve after a few days or weeks.
• Headaches: Spinal anaesthesia can in rare cases cause headaches. The headache will appear when you stand up and disappear once you lie down. The headache is harmless but will require treatment as it would otherwise take a long time to go away. Contact us if you develop a headache once you return home.
• Nerve damage: Local anaesthesia can in rare cases cause nerve damage. If after 1-2 days, you are still experiencing numbness, reduced muscle strength or pain around the nerve, contact the department responsible for your procedure. Nerve damage is only permanent in extremely rare cases.
• Dental injuries: If you already have loose or fragile teeth, there is a small risk that your teeth might be damaged by the tube inserted in your trachea during general anaesthesia.
• Accumulation of blood or infection in the back: In extremely rare cases, a spinal anaesthesia can result in an accumulation of blood or infection in your back. This requires immediate treatment. Dial 1813 for the medical helpline if you suddenly experience sensory disturbance/numbness in your legs, if you have trouble urinating or feel strong pain in the area where the anaesthesia was placed. Let the operator know that you have had a spinal anaesthesia.

Learn more

Read more about anaesthesia at www.patienthåndbogen.dk.. Search for ‘Bedøvelse, oversigt’.