• Common Anaesthetic Techniques
  Various methods are available to guarantee a painless operation and a comfortable recovery phase. It is possible to combine them according to the patient’s needs.

• General Anaesthesia (Full Narcosis)
  During a general anaesthetic, the anaesthetist triggers a temporary state of loss of consciousness and of insensitivity to pain using medicines that function in various ways. The selection and dosage of the medicines allows the anaesthetist to remove the narcotic effect precisely according to requirements at the end of the operation and to thus facilitate a fast recovery of intellectual capacity.

• Spinal Anaesthesia
  A local anaesthetic (one that only takes effect on a part of the body) is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid underneath the spinal cord. The areas rendered insensitive to pain by this technique first become warm, then insensitive, and can no longer be moved for a certain period. Rarely, pain may be experienced after the anaesthesia, but this does not last long; it may be accompanied by nausea, headaches, feeling cold and shivering or difficulty in passing urine. These can immediately be treated using appropriate procedures. Nerve lesions and infections are extremely rare. In cases of intense or prolonged pain, you will be given appropriate treatment.

• Epidural Anaesthesia (Peridural)
  A local anaesthetic is injected into the interstice between the medullary envelope and the vertebral canal. The areas rendered insensitive to pain by this technique first become warm, then insensitive, and can no longer be moved for a certain period. Through the insertion of a catheter we can use this anaesthetic technique to treat pain after the operation if necessary. The pains and side effects are similar to those associated with spinal anaesthesia (see above).

• Local Anaesthesia, Anaesthesia at the Level of the Plexus
  Blocking of the nerves in the arm or the leg using a local anaesthetic. The extent and effectiveness of the block are tested before the operation. Should the analgesia be incomplete, general anaesthesia can be provided at any time.
  The term ‘IV block’ refers to a blocking of the nerves by means of the intravenous administration of a local anaesthetic.

• Local Anaesthesia with Stand-By Anaesthetic
  A local anaesthetic is infiltrated at the specified location (usually by a surgeon), accompanied by the additional administration of light sedatives or painkillers (if necessary) and monitoring by the anaesthetists. The option of providing local anaesthesia remains open at all times.

Intensive Care / Intermediate Care
Intensive care is necessary when one or more organic systems require the assistance of medical devices (e.g. a respirator) and/or of medicines, or require very intensive care and/or monitoring. It may be that following a major operation or if you have any particular health problems, you will need to spend a few days in the intensive care department, with its ultramodern equipment. You will be cared for 24 hours a day there by specialist staff. You will be provided with explanations about what you can personally expect in the intensive care department by the anaesthetist during the pre-consultation, or by the department nurse.

Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
Thanks to his/her specialist training, the anaesthetist is qualified to carry out resuscitations (SSAR = Société suisse d'anesthésiologie et de reanimation, Swiss Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Society). We also call upon the emergency doctor (SMUR doctor) to provide for experienced assistance where local interventions in the Haut-Valais region are needed.

Pain Therapy
Post-operative pain can usually be coped with well, or even completely removed, thanks to the differentiated use of various analgesics and/or the insertion of special catheters. The anaesthetic specialist is also there to advise you and treat you in such cases.
Mothers-to-be in our obstetrics department also have the option of undergoing targeted epidural anaesthesia aimed at facilitating birth, in agreement with the midwife concerned.

Alternative Measures to Transfusion
During many operations, it is now possible to combine various measures that provide alternatives to transfusions. The anaesthetist will explain the different options to you (haemodilution, Cell Saver, autotransfusion) during the pre-consultation and will discuss what is the most appropriate procedure with you. This allows us to avoid having to carry out homologous transfusions during most operations.

Consultation for Outpatients and Day Clinic Patients
The choice of the best anaesthetic method for you depends on the type of operation, on your state of health and on your specific medical requirements. The anaesthetist will investigate what the best method is for you and will discuss it with you. During his/her visit or during the consultation, he/she will also clarify what you may eat beforehand and what medicines you need to take before the intervention.