General Anaesthesia

A General Anaesthetic (GA) is when you are put completely to sleep. This is performed by a specialist anaesthetist, usually in a hospital setting. This is the type of anaesthetic you might have if you were to have your tonsils removed, or the removal of your appendix.

There are a number of different reasons for having a general anaesthetic, these include the complexity or length of the surgery, the management of young patients or those who are particularly anxious/nervous about undergoing surgery. While you are asleep you are carefully looked after and monitored by the anaesthetist whilst the surgeon carries out the procedure. On waking you are taken to the specialist recovery area where you are again carefully monitored until you are safe to go home.