What do you need to know about Anaesthesia for Gynaecological Surgery?

Your preferences and anaesthetics

Your operation

Anaesthesia is designed to ensure rapid return to normality and to minimise the interruption that surgery represents to you. We will tailor our techniques to suit you, your operation and your surgeon. We may discuss a range of alternatives including General Anaesthesia, Regional Anaesthesia (such as Spinals or Epidurals) and Sedation.

We will see you prior to your operation and discuss these options for anaesthesia with you to address any concerns you may have including nausea avoidance and pain relief. We are available after your operation especially if there are any surgical complications.

Pain control

Regional Anaesthesia may be used in combination with a General Anaesthetic and can provide improved post-operative pain control and reduce the side effects from anaesthesia and pain relief medication. Used alone or in combination with sedation Regional Anaesthesia can be very suitable for operations such as vaginal repair, vaginal hysterectomy and anti-incontinence operations.

Modern anaesthesia and minimally invasive surgical techniques enable nearly all our laparoscopic hysterectomy patients to go home on the first day post operatively.

Pain relief

There are a variety of drugs available for the relief of nausea and control of post-operative pain and discomfort. They are often used in combination for best effect. For major operations you may be given a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device, which allows you to take control of the delivery of your own pain relief at the press of a button. These devices are very safe with pre-programmed limits to ensure that you get enough but not too much. Your nurse will be able to help you to use it initially after your operation.