MBBS (Hons), FANZCA, B.Sc (Physio)
Specialist Adult and Paediatric Anaesthetist
Provider number 240803VB
MBBS (Hons), FANZCA, B.Sc (Physio)
Specialist Adult and Paediatric Anaesthetist
Provider number 240803VB
Your surgeon has booked you for a surgical procedure that will require an anaesthetic. In most cases this involves a general anaesthetic, where you are completely unaware of what happens. Sometimes sedation might be suitable.
Anaesthesia is achieved by placing an IV cannula in the hand or arm. The skin of the hand can be numbed first with special cream. Anaesthetic drugs can be placed through the cannula to ensure you are asleep and completely unaware of what happens during your surgery.
Having an anaesthetic can be stressful to some people and children and some may benefit from having oral premedication before surgery. If you think that you or your child is likely to be highly anxious, please raise this with me.
As your Anaesthetist, I will remain with you at all times from the time you go to sleep, until you are waking in the recovery room. I will be monitoring your breathing, blood pressure and your pain control, so that you wake up in a comfortable manner.
Your surgeon is booking your child for a surgical procedure that will require an anaesthetic. In most cases this involves a general anaesthetic, where the child is completely unaware of what happens.
Anaesthesia can be achieved by breathing anaesthetic gas through a mask, or using an injectable drug through a cannula placed in a vein on the hand. The skin of the hand is numbed first with special cream.
Having an anaesthetic can be stressful to children and some may benefit from having oral premedication half an hour before surgery. If you think that your child is likely to be highly anxious, please raise this with me. Another way to reduce your child’s anxiety is for a parent to be with them. I encourage a parent to be present at the time of inducing anaesthesia for children over the age of 6 months. Parents are also invited to be present in the recovery room as your child wakes, so as far as children are concerned their parent never left.
As your child’s Anaesthetist, I will remain with them at all times from the time they go to sleep, until they are waking in the recovery room. I will be monitoring their breathing, blood pressure and their pain control, so that they wake up in a comfortable manner.
Your child will need to fast before their operation. This is to reduce the risk of food or liquids entering into the lungs while asleep. We appreciate that children don’t like fasting for long and times are adjusted to keep each child’s fast to a minimum. Guidelines are as follows:
Any solids and milk - stop 6 hours before surgery.
Babies less than 12 months - breast milk until 3 hours or formula until 4 hours before surgery.
Water - until 1 hour before surgery.
Your health insurance will cover most of your anaesthetic fees, however in most cases you can expect an out of pocket expense or GAP payment. Although our fees are higher than the Medical Schedule of most health insurers, they are considerably less than those recommended by the Australian Medical Association.
Payment of your anaesthetic fee is required one week prior to surgery and our staff will contact you to organise this. However if you wish to discuss your anaesthetic fee please phone 6162 0566. Our office is not always attended so please leave a message and your call will be returned.
If you are uninsured, you will receive a quote prior to your child’s procedure and payment in full is required before your child’s surgery.
Accounts can be paid by credit card, or bank transfer. Cash payment is not possible.
Different operations have different pain levels. Pain relief may be as simple as paracetamol (e.g. Panadol ) and ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen). Some operations require stronger pain killers e.g oxycodone or infusions of drugs such as morphine.
Some operations are suitable for local anaesthetic blocks or injections similar to an epidural called a ‘caudal anaesthetic’. We will discuss which form of pain relief is considered best for your child and the operation they are having.
You will be provided with a script for pain relief if necessary. Some hospitals fill these for you, where others will require you to fill at your local pharmacy.
Anaesthesia is extremely safe and Australia has some of highest standards for anaesthesia safety in the world. This is due to excellent training of staff and the use of monitoring whilst under anaesthesia. Despite this, nothing is without risk.
Common side effects are :
sore throat or dental damage
nausea and vomiting
waking up agitated or distressed
rare side effects to anaesthetic drugs
behavioural changes
In recent years there has been significant research into the effects anaesthesia may have on the developing nervous system. This research has not shown any effect on development or learning for children having anaesthetics that are up to 60 minutes. Permanent brain damage or death is extremely rare.
Epidurals and nerve blocks carry their own risks which I will discuss with you.
This does not include all side effects; please advise me if you wish to discuss risks further.