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title: "Patient Information"
slug: "articles"
---

# Information for Patients

General patient resources from Anaesthetic Services. Each article is also available individually.

- [Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-caesarean-section.md): The following text outlines the types of anaesthesia available for caesarean section. Your anaesthetist will see you and discuss your general health, progress of your pregnancy and anaesthetic with you in more detail. You can also obtain more information from your obstetrician, midwife and antenatal classes. This text is intended to provide information only. Please
- [Anaesthesia for Children](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-children.md): Specialist Anaesthetists try to reduce the anxiety to you and that of your child. We understand that this time can be stressful. It helps if you are candid and provide your child information about the surgery and the anaesthesia. It is preferable that your child does not know you are anxious, as this can upset
- [Anaesthesia for Gynaecological Surgery](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-gynaecological-surgery.md): Anaesthetic Consultations Most patients will be seen either on the day of surgery or the night before. If you have had problems with anaesthesia in the past, if there is a family history of significant anaesthetic problems or if you have significant medical problems you should see your anaesthetist at an earlier time. Your
- [Anaesthesia for lower limb joint replacement](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-lower-limb-joint-replacement.md): Anaesthesia for lower limb joint replacement can be approached a number of different ways. The commonest anaesthesia provided for these procedures is a spinal anaesthetic, combined with either a general anaesthetic or sedation (depending on a number of factors including patient preference and coexisting medical conditions). Different levels of monitoring are also required depending on
- [Anaesthesia for Major Hip Surgery](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-major-hip-surgery.md): The aims of anaesthesia for major hip surgery include: 1. Anaesthesia – a state of controlled unconsciousness throughout the operation 2. Analgesia – pain relief for the patient throughout the operation, aiming to reduce the stress response to surgical stimulation 3. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis 4. Prevention of pressure areas / nerve damage from prolonged positioning 5. Post-operative analgesia
- [Anaesthesia for Major Knee Surgery](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-major-knee-surgery.md): The aims of anaesthesia for major knee surgery (including joint replacement) include: 1. Anaesthesia – a state of controlled unconsciousness throughout the operation 2. Analgesia – pain relief for the patient throughout the operation, aiming to reduce the stress response to surgical stimulation 3. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis 4. Prevention of pressure areas / nerve damage from prolonged
- [Anaesthesia for Oral / Maxillofacial Surgical Procedures](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/anaesthesia-for-omfs-procedures.md): Surgery performed within the mouth is known as oral surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, dental surgeons and dentists all perform oral surgery. Minor procedures such as a simple tooth extraction are usually performed with a local anaesthetic administered by the dentist in the dental surgery. However more invasive or complex surgical procedures often require intravenous sedation
- [Arm blocks for upper limb surgery](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/arm-blocks-for-upper-limb-surgery.md): Your scheduled surgery may require an arm block, which is an injection of local anaesthetic solution around the nerves of your arm or shoulder which will mean that you will experience much less pain after your surgery. This will be done by your anaesthetist in the operating theatre a short time before surgery, often after
- [Epidural Pain Relief for Childbirth](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/epidural-pain-relief-during-childbirth.md): An epidural provides very effective pain relief for women in labour. If you are planning your birth, it's important to consider knowing about epidurals before labour, as it's a challenging conversation to have when you are in significant pain during labour. In addition to the details about epidurals below, extra information is also available from
- [Fasting Guidelines](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/fasting-guidelines.md): How long to fast before an anaesthetic — 6 hours for food, 4 hours for breast milk, 2 hours for water — and the different preparation needed if you take a GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic.
- [Managing Acute Pain](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/managing-acute-pain.md): The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists have developed a brochure entitled "Managing Acute Pain - A guide for Patients", which is available below. Whilst now a little dated, it is very comprehensive, and may be particularly useful for patients to read prior to undergoing surgery.
- [Medications and Anaesthesia](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/medications-and-anaesthesia.md): Which medicines to continue, stop or have reviewed before an anaesthetic — including blood thinners, anti-inflammatories, diabetes medication and GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic.
- [Sedation Anaesthesia](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/sedation-anaesthesia.md): For your surgical procedure you will be attended by a anaesthetist who will administer agents to make you relaxed and sleepy. A needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm or hand after you come into surgery. Oxygen will be given via a mask and monitors attached to you. Drugs which relax and sedate
- [Smoking and Anaesthesia](https://www.anaestheticservices.com.au/articles/smoking-and-anaesthesia.md): Summary: It would be ideal for you to quit smoking. If you cannot do this, reduce the amount you smoke. You should not smoke on the day of surgery. Smoking not only has harmful effects on general health but can also increase the risk when having anaesthesia and surgery. Smoking is associated with heart disease, peripheral