Your anesthesia process
Our aim is to make your stay around the time of surgery as safe and comfortable as possible.
Pre-anesthesia consultation
Pre-anesthesia consultation refers to the anesthesia information and consent discussion. This usually takes place in our outpatient clinic or in other suitable rooms. Patients have the opportunity to clarify all anesthesia-related questions, fears, and concerns.
Before surgery
Fasting
Before surgery, certain fasting rules must be followed.
- Clear fluids may be consumed up to two hours before surgery.
- Fruit juices, coffee, or tea should no longer be consumed on the day of surgery.
- Solid food should only be consumed up to six hours before the procedure.
Smoking
Smoking should generally be avoided before surgery, and at the latest two hours before the planned operation, as it can promote mucus build-up in the lungs in particular.
Fitness to drive and conduct business
After procedures under anesthesia, you are generally not fit to drive or conduct business on the day of surgery.
Therefore, you should arrange for someone to pick you up or for a lift home to ensure you can get home safely. For the night after surgery, the presence of a caregiver should be ensured.
The surgery
During the surgical procedure under general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist monitors all vital functions, responds to changes, and ensures the optimal depth of anesthesia.
With regional anesthesia, only certain areas of the body are numbed. Examples include an epidural catheter in the spinal canal to numb the chest, abdomen, pelvis, or legs, as well as a brachial plexus block in the armpit to numb the arm and hand.
Many procedures are also performed using a combination of regional and general anesthesia. This allows the benefits of each method to be used and side effects to be reduced.
Modern medications and anesthesia techniques help minimize side effects such as nausea, shivering, and vomiting.
