Anaesthetic Information

An Anaesthetist is a specialist medical doctor who trained for at least 11 years. His/her task is to: monitor & maintain your vital signs e.g. (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration etc.), keep you pain free throughout your surgery and ensure as far as possible a safe and comfortable recovery. Preceding Your Operation, your anaesthetist will read the anaesthesia questionnaire you have completed and discuss any relevant aspects with you, as well as any other concerns you may have. It is essential that you make full disclosure of your medical and surgical history and bring along all the names and doses of medication taken, as well as any relevant/recent laboratory data.

Different forms of Anaesthesia:

The type of anaesthesia administered depends on the nature of your surgery, your general health and our own preference. Your anaesthetist will determine the best type of anaesthesia for specific case and you are encouraged to discuss any relevant matters.

SEDATION: makes you feel drowsy, relaxed and you may even go to sleep. It may also be used while performing regional/local anaesthesia.

LOCAL ANAESTHESIA: makes a small a rea of your body insensitive to pain.

REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA: makes nerves to a limb/other body parts Insensitive to ain-allowing the surgeon to operate. E.g. limbs blocks, epidurals and spinals.

GENERAL ANAESTHESIA: will ender you totally unconscious. You will feel nothing during the operation and will remember nothing hereof. After Completion of Surgery you will be transferred to the recovery room, where monitoring of our vital signs will continue. There may be a short period of confusion as you regain consciousness.

RISKS INVOLVED: Despite preventative measure, advancements in anaesthesia and the best techniques being applied, there are still risks Involved In anaesthesia. Common Side Effects include post-operative pain, drowsiness, sore throat, nausea and vomiting.

COMPUCATIONS RARELY EXPERIENCED: Peripheral and/or nerve Injuries, bleeding, allergic reactions, damage to teeth and caps, airway Injuries, abrasion to eyes, soft tissue injuries, vascular injuries, pneumothorax, muscle pains and aspiration of stomach contents.

REMOTE COMPLICATIONS: Awareness during general anaesthesia, hypoxia, cardiac arrest, brain damage and death. With Regional Anaesthesia there is a small risk of local anaesthesia toxicity, cardiac arrest, infection, headache and neurological injury of various types, including paralysis and death.

Factors contributing to risk are drug abuse, smoking, obesity, diabetes, heart-and lung-or any systemic illnesses and muscle diseases, especially if uncontrolled. In Summary, there is always a risk of complications and discomfort involved in receiving anaesthesia, but this can be greatly reduced by making use of well-trained and qualified anaesthetists.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES: YOU MAY NOT TAKE JN ANY FOOD OR FLUID BEFORE OURGENERAL/ REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA FOR:

8 Hours: Large portions, fatty meals

6 Hours: Normal meals (Including milk)

5 Hours: Any Intake If you suffer from diabetes, reflux or stomach problems.

4 Hours: Babies who receive breast milk.

2 Hours: Clear liquid fluids, e.g. water apple juice, clear energy drink (Discuss with your anaesthetist, as this is normally applicable to children)

Non-compliance may cause your operation to be postponed for your safety, to prevent any food articles/stomach juices from moving into your lungs.

DO NOT drive or operate dangerous equipment for at least 24 HOURS after surgery!

YOUR ACCOUNT: Medical aid patients: Your fee for Anaesthesia is a separate account from your Hospital/Surgeon's account. The Anaesthetist will send the claim for your operation directly to your specific medical aid. It Is policy for your anaesthetist to bill for all in hospital procedures/operations above medical aid rates, e.g. X2medical aid rates, as this Is determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

In some instances your medical aid will pay the claimed amount into your personal bank account, PLEASE BEAWARE After you have received any payment that is due to your anaesthetist into your personal bank account please ensure that you transfer/deposit/pay directly the money owing within one week of receipt to your anaesthetist.

REMEMBER; you are personally responsible for payment of your account. You are advised to consult with your medical aid prior to your anaesthesia regarding the amount that your medical aid will pay. Feel free to address any queries you may have regarding costs with your Anaesthetist.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I agree to pay interest at 2% per month for any outstanding account balances and understand that the practice reserves the right to employ he services of a Credit Bureau to trace or list me as a slow/delinquent payer, should I fail to pay the full amount owed for anaesthetic services rendered to me.