What kind of anaesthesia will I have during my surgery?
There are four different types of anaesthesia:
General Anaesthesia is often compared to sleep. With this kind of anaesthesia your anaesthetist will keep you in a carefully controlled state of unconsciousness. When your surgery is over, he or she will reverse the anaesthesia to allow you to regain consciousness in a controlled and comfortable manner.
Regional Anaesthesia produces numbness in a region of your body like your arm or leg. With anaesthesia of this kind you are comfortable but awake. Regional anaesthesia is often combined with sedation.
Local Anaesthesia numbs just a small part of your body. You remain conscious but feel no pain. Local anaesthesia may be produced by injection, creams or sprays and is often administered by your surgeon. The initial injection may sting slightly but then the area will go numb. If you would prefer to feel relaxed and sleepy during your procedure, local anaesthesia can be combined with sedation.
Sedation, which is usually produced with a tablet or injection, makes you feel pleasantly sleepy. You remain awake but usually remember very little of what happened during your procedure. Sedation is often combined with local or regional anaesthesia.
The kind of surgery you are having, your needs and preferences and your overall health will determine which of these kinds of anesthesia will be used during your procedure.
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