Your Anaesthetic options

You should discuss anaesthesia and post-op pain relief with your anaesthetist

Your anaesthetist is responsible for pre-medication before your surgery, your anaesthesia and wellbeing during surgery and your post-operative pain relief.

Ask your urologist if you can meet with your anaesthetist before the day of your procedure. This way you won’t be hurried or stressed and can be involved in the planning.

Pre-medication

Your anaesthetist may offer you medication before your surgery. This could be to prevent nausea, reduce stomach acid or help you relax. If you think you’ll be feeling anxious before surgery, ask if you can have something to relax you.

General anaesthetic

All types of prostate cancer surgery are done under general anaesthesia. You’ll be unconscious for your procedure and a tube will be inserted into your throat to help you breathe. You may wake up with a sore throat from the tube. General anaesthetics may cause post-operative nausea and vomiting.

If you’re overweight or obese, there are increased risks associated with general anaesthesia.

Pain relief after surgery

You can expect some pain for the first few days after surgery. You’ll be given pain relief prescribed by your anaesthetist. By enabling you to move and breathe without too much discomfort, good pain relief can help reduce your risk of complications.

Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is often used in the first day or so. It’s an opiate drug delivered through a cannula into a vein. You can control the amount of pain relief you receive by pressing a button.

Injections of pain-relieving medication can be delivered by intravenous cannula or into a muscle.

Pills, tablets or liquids can be given at regular times or when pain starts to bother you.

Print this page to take when you meet with your urologist and anaesthetist, so you can make sure all your questions are answered.