On the day of surgery

Please follow instructions for the day of operation carefully,including when to stop eating and drinking before the operation.An empty stomach makes it less likely that any vomit could get into your lungs while you are under an anaesthetic.

You will be asked to change into theatre clothes and maybe given a “premed ” before coming to the operating theatre.A “premed ” is a tablet or tablets to relax you if you are nervous or to help with your pain relief after the operation.

On arrival in the operating theatre you will be met by your anaesthetist and the theatre team, this includes an anaesthetic technician (to help the anaesthetist),the nursing staff and the surgeon.

You will be attached to a specialized machine that monitors you continually throughout the operation and an intravenous infusion (drip) is placed in your arm.The monitors help the anaesthetist watch your heart,blood pressure, oxygen level and breathing during the operation making sure that you are as comfortable as possible.For some major operations you may need more invasive monitoring,this can include a special needle in an artery to watch your blood pressure beat-by-beat and a special intravenous line into one of the major veins in your neck.

You may be asked to breathe on oxygen through a mask as you go off to sleep,or during the operation under a regional anaesthetic,this provides extra safety.

Your anaesthetist stays with you for the whole operation checking you are comfortable and coping with the procedure.Their sole role is to look after you.

After your Operation; you will wake up in the recovery room with an oxygen mask and some monitoring still connected to you to assist with your waking.A specially trained nurse will check you are all right as you recover from your anaesthetic.