Patient Information Sheet
PELVIC/PERINEUM SURGERY
(CENTRAL NEURAXIAL BLOCK (CNB) OR GENERAL ANAESTHESIA (GA))
On the day of surgery
You will report to either the Day Surgery or the Same Day Admissions unit as instructed. After registration, you will be asked to change into the operating theatre (OT) gown and see a doctor before going into the OT reception area.
Once in the OT, you will either undergo General Anaesthesia and fall into a ‘deep’ sleep during the surgery; or receive a Central Neuraxial Block to numb the lower half of your body before surgery starts, and be awake or sedated during the surgery.
General anaesthesia (GA)
- General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness during which you will feel nothing. It is almost like being in a ‘deep’ sleep.
- Anaesthetic drugs will be injected into a soft plastic tube inserted into a vein in your hand. This is to induce the state of ‘deep’ sleep.
- These drugs stop your brain from responding to sensory messages travelling from the nerves in your body.
- You will be unaware of your surroundings, the surgery or pain.
- You will be asleep for the entire duration of the surgery and woken up only after the surgery is completed.
- You will have no memory of the procedure.
- Your anaesthetist and anaesthetic team will be with you during the surgery.
Common risks associated with GA
This will affect 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 patients who undergo surgery with GA.
- Nausea and vomiting – due to the side effects of the anaesthetic drugs and type of surgery.
- Sore throat – due to the presence of the breathing tube we use when you are asleep.
- Giddiness, headache or sleepiness – due to the remaining effect of the anaesthetic drugs.
- Aches, pains and backache – due to your body posture during surgery.
- Experience pain when drugs are injected – due to the side effects of the anaesthetic drugs.
- Bruising and soreness – due to your body posture during surgery and side effects of the anaesthetic drugs.
- Itch - due to the side effects of the anaesthetic drugs.
Uncommon risks associated with GA
This will affect 1 in 10,000 patients who undergo surgery with GA.
- Eye abrasion causing pain and requiring treatment.
- Damage to teeth and dental work, lips or tongue.
- Injury to the skin, eyes, nerve due to prolonged positioning .
Rare risks associated with GA
This will affect 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000 patients who undergo surgery with GA.
- Being aware of activities in the operating room while still under anaesthesia.
- Inherited muscle sensitivity to particular anaesthetic drugs (malignant hyperthermia). This can cause a rapid rise in body temperature, heart rate and breathing with high blood pressure and muscle rigidity.
- Hoarseness of voice due to direct or indirect injury to the vocal cord.
Very rare risks associated with GA
- Allergy to anaesthetic drugs causing wheezing, rash, swelling, and low blood pressure, and poor circulation in severe cases.
- Heart attack (AMI - Acute Myocardial Infarction), stroke (CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident) and pneumonia.
- Brain damage or death.
Sedation
- This involves injecting medication through a vein to keep you drowsy and comfortable while you are under regional anaesthesia (RA).
- You may or may not remember the procedure because of the sedation. You may wake up intermittently, but will usually fall back asleep after.
Central neuraxial block (CNB)
- You may be offered a central neuraxial block as a sole technique for surgical anaesthesia.
- This technique involves an injection of local anaesthetic drugs at the back of your spine under sterile conditions.
- You will feel numb from the waist down and your legs will feel weak for up to 4-6 hours. This is so that you do not experience surgical pain at the operation site.
How is it performed?
- You will either be awake or lightly sedated for the procedure.
- Your anaesthetic team will help to position you: you will either sit at the edge of the bed with your feet on a low stool or you will lie curled up on your side with your knees tucked up towards your chest.