The type of anaesthesia you receive depends on your operation, your health, and in some cases your preference. Dr Siriwardana will discuss the recommended approach with you before your surgery. Select Adults or Children below to display the relevant information.
General anaesthesia
A carefully controlled, medication-induced state of unconsciousness. The aim is that you are unconscious, unaware and do not feel pain during the operation. Medications are usually given through a drip in your hand or arm, and your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels are monitored continuously throughout. Your anaesthetist remains with you for the entire operation.
Sedation
Often used for procedures such as endoscopy, colonoscopy and minor surgery. Sedation medications make you relaxed and drowsy; most people sleep lightly and remember little or nothing of the procedure. You breathe for yourself and recover quickly, but the same fasting and “no driving for 24 hours” rules apply as for a general anaesthetic.
Spinal and epidural anaesthesia
Local anaesthetic is injected near the nerves in your lower back, making the lower half of your body numb for surgery such as joint replacement, urological or gynaecological procedures. You may remain awake or have light sedation as well — many patients are surprised how comfortable this is. Feeling returns gradually over a few hours afterwards.
Nerve blocks (regional anaesthesia)
Local anaesthetic is injected around specific nerves — usually using ultrasound guidance — to numb the part of the body being operated on, such as a shoulder, arm, hand, knee or foot. A nerve block can be the main anaesthetic or, more commonly, is combined with a general anaesthetic to provide many hours of excellent pain relief after you wake up.
If you go home with a limb that is still numb, you must protect it carefully — see After your operation.
Local anaesthesia
For some minor procedures, local anaesthetic injected at the surgical site is all that is required, sometimes with sedation for comfort.
Watch: anaesthesia explained
From the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists — what anaesthesia is and what your anaesthetist does:
A TED-Ed animation on how anaesthetic medications actually work:
Want more? The Australian Society of Anaesthetists keeps an excellent library of patient videos on specific topics.
Common side effects and small risks
Being honest about side effects helps you know what is normal. After a general anaesthetic or sedation, it is common — and temporary — to experience some of the following:
- A sore or dry throat from the breathing tube or airway device used while you are asleep. This usually settles within a day or two.
- Nausea or vomiting. If you are prone to motion sickness or have felt sick after a previous anaesthetic, tell us beforehand — the anaesthetic technique and preventive medications can be tailored to substantially reduce the risk.
- Drowsiness, shivering, or feeling emotional in the first hours after waking.
- Bruising or tenderness where the drip was placed.
Dental injury is an uncommon but recognised risk of airway management during anaesthesia. The risk is higher if you have loose teeth, caps, crowns, veneers or bridges — please point these out before your anaesthetic so extra care can be taken.
Serious complications — such as severe allergic reactions, breathing or heart problems, or awareness under anaesthesia — are rare, and Australia is one of the safest places in the world to have an anaesthetic. Your individual risk depends on your health and your operation, and will be discussed with you. The ANZCA patient information pages have detailed fact sheets if you would like to read further.
Questions or concerns?
If you are anxious about your anaesthetic, have had problems with anaesthesia before, or a family member has had a serious anaesthetic reaction, please raise this early — ideally before the day of surgery. These conversations matter and there is always a plan.
This information is general in nature and does not replace the discussion you will have with your anaesthetist about your specific operation and risks.
A little reassurance, together.
Explore this guide together, one step at a time.
This short video is made for children — watching it together before the day is a great way to start the conversation about what will happen:
🌌 Going off to sleep
Children can go off to sleep either by breathing anaesthetic through a soft mask, or through a drip — and numbing cream is applied to the hands beforehand so that if a drip is used, the needle isn’t felt. Many children like choosing a flavour for their mask. In most cases one parent can stay with their child until they are asleep.
If your child goes to sleep with the mask, don’t be alarmed by what you see in the last moments before sleep — wriggling, eyes drifting, or noisy breathing for a few seconds is a completely normal part of drifting off.
🌞 Waking up
Pain relief is given before your child wakes, and you will be brought to them in recovery as soon as possible. Even so, many children — particularly toddlers and preschoolers — wake up confused, clingy or crying. This is very common, usually reflects disorientation rather than pain, and settles with a cuddle and time. Some children stay drowsy for a few hours; a quiet day at home with light food is all that’s needed.
🏠 At home
Children’s paracetamol and ibuprofen, dosed by your child’s weight according to the packet or your pharmacist, cover most children’s pain well after minor surgery — given regularly for the first day or two rather than waiting for distress. Follow any specific instructions from your surgeon. Contact your surgeon, the hospital or your GP if your child has a fever, won’t drink, is vomiting repeatedly, or seems to be getting worse rather than better — and call 000 for any breathing difficulty.
How to prepare your child, and children’s fasting rules, are under Before your anaesthetic → Children. The ANZCA patient information hub has further detailed resources on children and anaesthesia.
This information is general in nature. The instructions given to you by the hospital, your surgeon or your anaesthetist for your specific operation always take priority.