FAQs

What does a Surgeon do?

A surgeon is a specialised doctor who is able to remove diseased organs and tissue, provide treatments for body systems, and replace / transplant organs. Surgery often involves the penetration of patient tissue and closure of any wounds.

What does an Anaesthetist do?

An anaesthetist can become a Surgeon, General Practitioner (GP), or specialise in a particular medicine area. Before a surgery, your anaesthetist will administer anaesthetics and provide you with the perioperative care you need before, during and after surgery. To become an anaesthetist in Australia, doctors typically complete a 6-year medicine degree, complete 3 years of hospital training as well as a further 5 years of experience.

How you can help prepare for your operation

Before the Operation

• You may consider giving up smoking (if you smoke) a number of weeks before your operation.
• If you are overweight, you may also consider reducing your weight as there are anaesthetic risks.
• Visit your dentist for advice or treatment if you have a loose tooth, broken teeth, crown, or unsecure teeth.
• Patients with medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, or epilepsy must be checked up by their GP.
• Provide your anaesthetist with any information communicated by your specialist as this information might help.

On the Day of the Operation

• Strictly follow any rules given to you about fasting. Your surgery may be cancelled if these rules are not followed as there are high risks with an operation if you are not fasting.
• It is recommended that you do not have food 6 hours prior to the operation and have no fluids 4 hours prior to the operation.
• Your regular medicine should be taken as normal on the day of the operation, unless told otherwise by the anaesthetist or surgeon. Consult with your anaesthetist if unsure.
• If you feel unwell on the day of the operation, let your anaesthetist or surgeon know. Depending on their judgement, your operation may be postponed until you are feeling better.
• Avoid wearing artificial / acrylic nails or nail polish. During your operation, your oxygen levels will be monitored using a pulse oximeter which is usually placed on your finger. Nail polish and artificial / acrylic nails may not allow the probe to perform effectively, so you may be asked to remove the polish or acrylics prior to the operation.

Meeting Your Anaesthetist Before the Operation

• Your anaesthetist will meet you just prior to surgery in the pre-operation area and perform the necessary examinations and assessments.
• They will ask you some questions about your health including serious illnesses, problems with heartburn, allergies, dental health, smoking and alcohol, previous problems with anaesthetics, and medications you are taking.
• If you have any of your own questions or concerns, please discuss them at this time with your anaesthetist.
• You will be walked through anaesthetic methods including risks, benefits and your preferences by your anaesthetist.
• The anaesthetics you will be administered depends on your operation, answers to medical questions you have been asked by your anaesthetist, your physical health, preferences, doctor recommendations, equipment, staff, and hospital resources.
• Once your anaesthetist is happy with your assessment, they will take you through to the theatre area for your surgery.

What are the Risks and Safety Information I need to know before my operation?

• Although anaesthesia has made such a great difference in surgery today by removing any pain sensation, it’s risks can be weighted against its benefits.
• The risk of an operation on your general health can be difficult to separate from the risks of anaesthetics.
• The risks associated with an operation for each individual will depend on underlying health problems that the individual may have, personal factors such as smoking or overweighting, the type of surgery, and how urgent the operation is.
• The risks vary from one individual to the other.
• Any drug used by an anaesthetic in Australia must be tested and licensed by Therapeutic Goods Administration. These drugs are licenced on the basis of successfully being tested and used for a long period.

What are the Side Effects of Anaesthesia?

• A side effect is a typically undesirable effect of a drug or medical treatment. Although side effects may be unavoidable, the effect is not long-lasting.
• Complications are unanticipated and undesired occurrences due to a treatment. For example, an unexpected allergy may arise due to administration of a drug.
• Some common side effects that a patient may experience include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, sore throat, muscle aches, itching, shivering, sleepiness, and mild hoarseness.
• Patients also often experience other side effects such as pain after having woken up from anesthesia.
• Your anesthesia care team will ask you about your pain and other side effects. Make sure to consult with them if you have any questions about side effects you may be experiencing.

What are some Uncommon Side Effects and Complications?

• Some of the uncommon side effects of anaesthesia may be damage to teeth, lips or tongue, bladder problems, muscle pain, deterioration of previous medical condition, and depressed respiration.
• Your anaesthetist may use light anaesthetics and muscle relaxants to reduce the risks of you developing these uncommon side effects.
• The type of anaesthetics administered will differ from one patient to the other depending on their general health and existing medical status.
• Monitors are used to help anaesthetists check your brain wave patterns.
• If you feel like you have been conscious during your operation, make sure to let your anaesthetist know as soon as possible.
• Make sure to consult with your doctor, anaesthetist, or surgeon if you have any questions regarding uncommon side effects.

What are some Rare Side Effects?

• Anaesthetists take great care to protect your eyes, however, eye damage is a very rare side effect during operations involving anaesthetics.
• On very rare occasions, patients may also develop severe allergy to drugs.
• Nerve damage (paralysis) may be a rare side effect and a result of damage by the needle when performing a regional block.
• Deaths caused by anaesthesia are very rare and usually only occur due to 4 to 5 complications during an operation. There are only five deaths for every million anaesthetics given in Australia.
• Anaesthetic gas supplies and ventilators are essential anaesthetic equipment. Failure of these equipment is rare as monitors are used to indicate whether there is a problem. These failures do not have serious effects and very rarely occur.

What is Informed Financial Consent (IFC)?

Informed financial consent (IFC) is the provision of cost information to patients, including notification of likely out-of-pocket expenses (gaps), by all relevant service providers, preferably in writing, prior to admission to hospital or treatment.

An IFC can be provided to, patients in writing or via suitable to use communication technologies such as email, SMS and apps.

Occasionally, the course of medical treatment can be uncertain and, because anaesthetic is based on time, it can be difficult for anaesthetists to provide definitive IFC. Due to this, you may receive an estimate, in which case an account will be sent out post operation for payment.

If you have any questions regarding your IFC , please call the office on 02 8795 0892.

Medical Rebates Explained

The benefit amount you will expect to receive can vary and is based on your level of cover, your procedure and how long your surgery went for. Generally speaking, between Medicare and your Health fund you could receive up to 30% of the fee paid. If you have been asked to make a co-payment, then this is your out of pocket ‘gap’ fee and is not claimable, the remaining will be submitted on your behalf to Medicare and your Health fund.

What is Gap Cover or No Gap?

Both terms mean the same. Gap cover is when your health fund has an arrangement in place with the medical services provider (e.g. the hospital or your doctor). Gap cover insures you against some of the out-of-pocket costs between what the medical services provider charges you and what Medicare will give you back (the gap payment).

Therefore, both terms mean the same. A gap payment, also known as an out-of-pocket expense, is the amount outstanding between what a hospital or specialist charges and what the combination of Medicare and your private health insurance fund covers.

Feel free to browse the Australian Society of Anaesthetists website for more information.