FOLGEN SIE UNSRUFEN SIE UNS ANFOLGEN SIE UNSRUFEN SIE UNS ANWe are also obliged to inform you regarding rare risks and side effects. Because these occur very rarely, you can be confident about placing yourself in our hands. We would ask you to please read through the procedures and risks carefully. The responsible anaesthesia team will contact you by telephone 1-2 days before the procedure to discuss preparation and provide you with information, as well as to determine the anaesthesia procedure. Should you nevertheless wish to have a personal preparatory meeting, please inform us in good time.
The risk of life-threatening incidents, such as respiratory and circulatory arrest or anaesthetic fever (malignant hyperthermia) is extremely low, even in the case of seriously ill persons. Allergic reactions and nerve damage are also very rare. Unpleasant symptoms that may occur after the anaesthesia but do not last long are nausea, vomiting, shivering, feeling cold, itching, bruising, backache and/or headache.
General anaesthesia is a deep, sleep-like state during which we generally have to artificially support your breathing. Usually a medication (anaesthetic) is administered via infusion, which causes you to fall asleep within a minute.
Specific risks: hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, aspiration, vocal cord injury, dental damage, being awake during anaesthesia (extremely rare).
The administration of medications that reduce cognition results in a superficial sleep state, which may eventually lead to a memory lapse.
Specific risks: slowing down of breathing.
Spinal anaesthesia involves injecting a local anaesthetic at the level of the lumbar spine to numb the nerve trunks that run along there and which supply the lower half of the body. Due to anaesthetisation of the spinal cord nerves leading to the operation area, there is a temporary restriction of movement of the legs, a feeling of warmth, and sensory insensitivity. Medications that inhibit coagulation must definitely be discontinued before spinal anaesthesia (Aspirin, Plavix, Brilique, Xarelto, Marcoumar, etc.). Please speak to your treating GP practice for the correct procedure.
Specific risks: headache, temporary drop in blood pressure with nausea, urinary retention. Serious complications, such as impaired hearing and vision, nerve injuries, nerve paralysis or even paraplegia are extremely rare.
This involves injecting the local anaesthetic around the nerves leading away from the surgical area in order to numb them. For example, at the upper arm, for procedures on the hand or forearm. To locate these nerves correctly, we use a so-called “nerve stimulator” or an ultrasound device. After about 10-20 minutes, the anaesthetised limb will become warm, heavy and numb until the effect wears off after several hours. If the effect is insufficient to a degree, further painkillers or general anaesthesia can be administered at any time.
Specific risks: bruising, allergic reactions, cramps, nerve damage, infections.
For minor and short procedures on the hand or parts of the forearm, a pressure cuff is applied to the upper arm so that the local anaesthetic, which is injected via a vein in the affected limb, will only be in that area and will be prevented from entering the “large” circulation system. The resulting arm and hand insensitivity will last until this pressure cuff is opened again about 20 minutes after the procedure, when the medication will leave the arm again.
Specific risks: bruising, allergic reactions, cramps, drop in blood pressure, feeling of pressure on the upper arm.
So-called “drop anaesthesia” is mainly used for cataract operations and other, mainly superficial operations on the eye. In this case, the eye is locally anaesthetised with eye drops to make the procedure painless for you.