Anesthesiology

Anaesthesia enables surgical procedures to be performed without pain and under controlled conditions. Both general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia specifically eliminate the sensation of pain. The method used depends on the procedure, the patient's state of health and individual risk. During the operation, the anaesthesia team continuously monitors vital functions, controls medication and safely guides the patient through anaesthesia, the subsequent recovery phase and post-operative pain management.

Types of anesthesia

Anesthesia Consultation

Anesthesia procedures

Risks and side effects

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Quick facts

Definition: Anaesthesia refers to a reversible state of unconsciousness and absence of pain in the broader sense.
General anaesthesia: General anaesthesia induces a deep, artificial sleep and eliminates painful sensations.
Regional anaesthesia: Local anaesthesia numbs only the part of the body that is to be operated on.
Risks: The risks of anaesthesia depend mainly on the patient's general state of health, age, the type and urgency of the procedure and the anaesthesia method used. Healthy patients usually experience only minor side effects.

General anaesthesia

General anaesthesia involves the administration of anaesthetics and painkillers via intravenous injection and/or inhalation to induce a deep, artificial sleep and eliminate painful sensations.

To do this, the anaesthetist injects a drug that causes loss of consciousness (hypnotic), a painkiller (strong morphine derivatives) and, if necessary, a drug to relax the muscles (muscle relaxant).

Local/regional anaesthesia

In regional anaesthesia, only the part of the body to be operated on is anaesthetised. The patient remains conscious.

Regional anaesthesia can be used during surgery as a single procedure or in combination with general anaesthesia. It is also used for postoperative pain management.

In regional anaesthesia, a local anaesthetic with the desired duration of action is injected near the nerves to temporarily prevent pain signals from the surgical area from being transmitted to the brain.

Different types of regional anaesthesia

Spinal anaesthesia (epidural anaesthesia): Injection of a local anaesthetic near the spinal cord (spinal canal). This procedure allows the abdomen and legs to be anaesthetised, for example for gynaecological or urological procedures and procedures on the lower extremities. Epidural anaesthesia is often used as an additional procedure for postoperative pain management after major abdominal surgery.
Peripheral regional anaesthesia: Injection of a local anaesthetic near a nerve or nerve plexus. This procedure allows targeted anaesthesia of only one part of the body, for example to perform orthopaedic surgery on a limb.

We find the appropriate method of anesthesia

The anaesthetist decides on the anaesthesia method together with the patient during the preoperative anaesthesia consultation. The specialist makes their recommendation taking into account the surgical procedure, the assessment of the risk to the patient and the patient's wishes.

This is how the anesthesia procedure works

Before the anaesthesia procedure is initiated, the patient is connected to a monitoring device for continuous monitoring of vital functions. In addition, a venous catheter is inserted for the administration of medication and fluids. The anaesthetist then applies the anaesthesia procedure agreed with the patient.

An anaesthetist remains present throughout the entire surgical procedure to ensure that the patient is supplied with sufficient anaesthetics and that their safety is guaranteed.

Once the procedure is complete, the supply of anaesthetic drugs is stopped and the patient wakes up from the anaesthesia. In the case of general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia close to the spinal cord, the patient is accompanied to the recovery room for post-operative monitoring.

In the post-operative monitoring room, various analgesics are administered as needed to treat post-operative pain.

The patient returns to their room as soon as they have fully awakened from the anaesthesia, their vital signs are stable and their pain is under control.

Risks and side effects of anaesthesia

Thanks to anaesthesia, it is possible to perform operations under very safe conditions. Nevertheless, not all potential risks can be ruled out. These risks depend mainly on the patient's general state of health, age, the type and urgency of the procedure, and the anaesthesia method used. The number of serious complications in highly developed countries such as Switzerland is estimated at one per 100,000 patients.

Most of the side effects listed below are temporary and subside on their own after a few hours.

Risks of general anaesthesia

Healthy patients usually experience only minor side effects. General anaesthesia may cause nausea and vomiting after waking up or in the hours following the procedure. In most cases, however, it is possible to prevent these symptoms by administering anti-nausea medication beforehand.

Intubation can also cause dental injuries, such as loosened teeth or difficulties inserting the ventilation tube into the windpipe, which are usually due to anatomical factors. This complication occurs in only one in 2,000 patients. After intubation, up to 40% of patients may also experience a sore throat, which will subside on its own within a few days.

Finally, some patients experience chills during the recovery phase. This is mainly due to the decrease in body temperature during the surgical procedure, but it can also be a side effect of pain and stress. For this reason, the anaesthetist always takes care to minimise heat loss during the procedure. Furthermore, medication for chills can be administered postoperatively.

Risks of regional anaesthesia

Regional anaesthesia carries a very rare but serious risk of nerve damage in the form of sensory disturbances or loss of strength. In most cases, however, these disturbances are reversible. Regional anaesthesia close to the spinal cord may also cause a drop in blood pressure during the operation or headaches after the operation.