General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness during which you feel nothing. You will have no memory of what happens while you are anaesthetised.
A general anaesthetic is essential for a very wide range of operations. This includes all major operations on the heart or lungs or in the abdomen, and most operations on the brain or the major arteries. It is also normally needed for laparoscopic (keyhole) operations on the abdomen.
What you will experience
Your general anaesthetic may start in the anaesthetic room or in the operating theatre. Your anaesthetist will be working with a trained assistant.
Staff will attach leads to your finger, arm and chest to measure your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels.
A cannula, which is a small plastic tube, is inserted into one of the veins in your arm using a needle. If you have any concerns about this, please talk to your anaesthetist.
There are two ways of starting a general anaesthetic:
1. Injection through a cannula
Anaesthetic drugs are injected into a vein through the cannula. This is the method used for most adults as it is the most controlled. Before the anaesthetic starts you will breathe oxygen through a mask.
2. Breathing anaesthetic gas through a mask
You can breathe anaesthetic gases and oxygen through a mask. The mask can be held by you or by the anaesthetist. After you are unconscious your anaesthetist will put in a cannula.
The video below shows a general anaesthetic being given to a patient who is going to have an eye operation. This video was produced by the Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and we are using it with their kind permission (please note the disclaimer below the video*). Although there are many different ways of administering general anaesthesia, the video gives a good demonstration of the technique. Again, please remember that this is not a video from an NHS Lothian hospital and so the surroundings, equipment, and some of the technical aspects of the anaesthetic may well differ from the one you receive. Of course, the information at the end of the video about care after an eye operation will not be relevant.
The recovery room
After the operation, you will usually be taken to the recovery room. Recovery staff will make sure you are as comfortable as possible and give any extra medication you may need. When they are satisfied that you have recovered safely from your anaesthetic, and there is a bed available, you will be taken back to the ward.
Risks of an anaesthetic
Modern anaesthetics are very safe. There are some common side effects from the anaesthetic drugs, or the equipment used, which are usually not serious or long lasting.
Risks will vary between individuals and will depend on the procedure and anaesthetic technique used. Your anaesthetist will discuss the risks they believe to be more significant for you.
Very common – more than 1 in 10
Equivalent to 1 person in your family
- Sickness
- Shivering
- Sore throat
- Thirst
- Bruising
- Temporary memory loss
Common – between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100
Equivalent to 1 person in a street
- Minor Tongue or Lip Injury
- Pain at Injection Site
Uncommon – between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000
Equivalent to 1 person in a village
- Minor nerve injury
Rare – between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000
Equivalent to 1 person in a small town
- Permanent Nerve Damage: 1 in 1,000
- Corneal Abrasion (scratch on eye): 1 in 2,800
- Dental damage: 1 in 4,500
- Anaphylaxis (Severe allergic reaction): 1 in 10,000
Very rare – between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000
The risks we all take in normal life, such as road travel, are actually far higher than the risks below
- Awareness during anaesthetic: 1 in 20,000
- Loss of vision: 1 in 100,000
- Death directly due to anaesthesia: 1 in 100,000
Caring for someone who has had a general anaesthetic or sedation
The Royal College of Anaesthetists have provided an excellent resource about care for someone who has had a general anaesthetic or sedation which can be found by clicking here
We suggest that you and the person looking after you read this thoroughly.
PLEASE NOTE
This website includes content taken from the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ (RCoA) leaflets ‘Fitter, Better, Sooner (2018)’, ‘You and your anaesthetic (2020)’, ‘Anaesthesia explained (2015)’, and ‘Common events and risks in anaesthesia(2019)’. However, The RCoA has not reviewed the website as a whole. Some of the RCoA infographics used on the website have been adapted for web viewing.
