Patient Resources

Fasting Before Surgery:

It is important that you are fasted for surgery – please refer to the following Information for patients. It is important that you have no solid food (including chewing gum) 6 hours before surgery. Unless you have been told otherwise, this generally means no food after midnight for a morning procedure, and no food after 7.30 am for an afternoon procedure. While fasting, you can drink water up to 2 hours prior to surgery (maximum half a glass per hour). To ensure your stomach is empty during surgery, your last meal before you start fasting should be light. There are specific guidelines for children under 16, which are detailed below. 

General Anaesthetic Resources:

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists has a range of patient resources that help to explain:

• What anaesthesia is, how anaesthetics are given, and how your anaesthetists will care for you
• The role of an anaesthetist during your operation, including our role in caring for you before, during and after your procedure
• The main types of anaesthesia and the factors that influence the choice of anaesthetic that may be used during your procedure 
• Patient information pamphlets on common procedures and anaesthesia, and
• General information about the cost of anaesthesia.

Obstetric Anaesthetic Resources:

The Royal Women’s Hospital has a range of valuable resources on caesarean birth, including anaesthesia for caesarean section, which is usually performed while you are awake under a spinal or epidural anaesthesia, including information on what you can expect. The Hospital also publishes information on epidurals, which is a form of pain relief provided by anaesthetists to reduce pain during labour and birth, including advantages, risks and potential epidural side effects.

• The Royal Women’s Hospital Guide to Regional Anaesthesia for Caesareans
• The Royal Women’s Hospital Information on Epidurals

The LabourPains website, a public information resource created by the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association in the UK, has information about the pain relief choices available during labour and how to cope with pain during labour. The information has been written by a multi-disciplinary group of doctors, midwives and mothers, ensuring that you have access to information that is trustworthy, unbiased and scientifically proven.

This short film is a helpful introduction to what you can expect during your caesarean, including the members of hospital staff you may meet and what the theatre will look like. The Caesarean Births FAQs published by LabourPains provide a detailed overview of the questions that anaesthetists are commonly asked in the maternity ward about c-section anaesthesia. Whilst there are some minor differences in practice between Australia and the UK, I find the approach to obstetric anaesthesia is quite similar.

Dental Anaesthetic Resources: 

A comprehensive range of dental anaesthetic services are available for various dental procedures, including anaesthesia for wisdom teeth, to ensure patient safety and comfort throughout dental treatments. Information about oral surgery, including when dental anaesthetic may be required, as well as the anaesthetic options available, recovery and post-surgery pain relief, are detailed in the below brochure, published by the Australian Society of Anaesthesia.

• Australian Society of Anaesthetists Guide on Anaesthesia For Oral Surgery

Anaesthesia For Children:

There are a range of helpful resources available for parents and carers of children undergoing anaesthesia, as well as pamphlets and comics to help younger patients understand and prepare for their anaesthetic in an age-appropriate way.

• Australian Society of Anaesthetists Guide on Anaesthesia For Children
• Royal College of Anaesthetists Information for Children, Parents and Carers
• Leaflets to Explain Anaesthesia to Children and Young People of Different Ages

If your child is scheduled for surgery, they must fast (avoid eating or drinking) for a specific period before the procedure. This ensures their stomach is empty, which is essential for the safe administration of general anaesthesia. Parents and carers should consult the resources below for detailed guidance.

• Royal Children’s Hospital Preparing Your Child for Surgery – Fasting
• Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital Clinical Practice Guidelines on Fasting Before Anaesthesia

Post-Operative Pain Relief:

Managing your pain relief effectively after surgery is important for your recovery. I will discuss the most appropriate pain relief options with you on the day of your procedure. General information you may find helpful on what to expect in managing your recovery is set out in the link below.

• General Information on Pain Relief Options Following Surgery

Further Anaesthetic Resources:

Further reliable resources regarding different types of anaesthesia are available on the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) websites.

Please note that these resources are provided as general information and do not replace speaking with an anaesthetist about your specific situation and medical needs. If you require specific information about your upcoming procedure, you are welcome to contact me or complete the patient Pre-Operative Questionnaire.