The aim of anaesthesia is to make a surgical intervention possible without the patient feeling any pain or stress. It is now possible to carry out long surgical interventions on patients of any age with a high level of safety. The anaesthetist selects the best method of anaesthesia, the best drugs, and provides treatment and supervision tailored to each patient.

The patient is always seen by an anaesthetist before his/her operation, usually a few days before it is due. All the issues relating to anaesthesia are discussed at this point.

On the day of the operation, for security reasons and in order to avoid the patient vomiting during anaesthesia, it is forbidden for the patient to eat anything during the six hours leading up to the start of anaesthesia. The patient may however drink clear drinks such as water, tea without milk etc., in moderation up to two hours before anaesthesia.

In the operating block, the patient is very closely monitored by a specialised team of anaesthetists and nurses, who carry out the anaesthesia according to the patient’s and the surgeon’s needs. Once the operation is over, each patient continues to be monitored in the recovery room until his/her condition is stable.

If the operation is carried out in the outpatient clinic, meaning that the patient will go home on the day of the operation, then the patient is not allowed to drive a vehicle, and it is recommended that he/she is not left alone until the next day. Should there be any problem, the hospital can be contacted at any time.

After a surgical intervention, the anaesthetist will prescribe various painkilling drugs tailored to the patient’s needs. These drugs are administered in the recovery room and then in the ward. They may initially be injected, and then be taken in the form of pills to swallow.
Following more major interventions, a morphine pump may be installed. Known as a ‘PCA pump’, it allows the patient to self-administer painkilling drugs, while ensuring a very high level of safety.
Another option that is often used is epidural analgesia. In this case, a mixture of local anaesthetic-based drugs is administered via a small catheter. Like the ‘PCA pump’, this ‘epidural pump’ allows for tailor-made, safe and effective pain relief.