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having a general anaesthetic

Some people like to know what will happen when they have treatment.

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When you have an operation, or certain kinds of treatment at the hospital,

you will sometimes need a General Anaesthetic - which is like a deep sleep. 

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When you have a General Anaesthetic, you will have something called

a cannula placed in your hand, so that you can have some medicine.

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This part explains what might happen before, during and after

having a cannula for having an anaesthetic.

 

There is a comic strip that shows you what might happen when you have your treatment too.

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If there is anything you don't want to see, you don't need to -

just click on the parts you are interested in!

 

Having a GA_edited_edited.png

I would like to know what a cannula is for and why I need one A cannula is a very small plastic tube that usually goes on the back of one of your hands, which means you can have medicine put straight into your body without having to swallow it. You will need one if you are having a General Anaesthetic at the hospital for an operation or procedure. The doctors use the cannula to give you the medicine that starts your anaesthetic, and for any other medicines that you need during your anaesthetic.

I would like to know what might happen BEFORE my cannula Your doctor will explain what they would like to do during your anaesthetic. On the day of your treatment, you might be given some numbing cream to put on the back of your hands, which will stop you feeling things as much. This cream needs to be left on for a while so it can work properly. You might also meet some other doctors and nurses who will check your details and talk to you about your treatment before your anaesthetic.

I would like to know what might happen DURING my cannula If you had some numbing cream on your hand, this will be wiped off. You will feel some squeezing on your arm, and some tapping or patting on your hand. When the cannula is put in, you will feel some pushing. The needle will be taken away, and there is a little plastic tube left. A sticky plaster will be put on your hand to make sure it stays in place. You can then have the medicine for your anaesthetic. The doctor will tell you how the medicine will make you feel. It's important that the cannula goes in the right place, so the medicine can work properly. Sometimes placing the cannula can be a little tricky. If the cannula can't be placed in the right place on one hand, you might have to try the other. This is why the numbing cream is put on both of your hands.

I would like to know what might happen AFTER my cannula Once you are ready to go home, someone will take the cannula out for you. The sticky plaster will be taken off, and the cannula just slides out (this doesn’t hurt). The person taking it out will then squeeze your hand a little when the cannula has been to stop you getting a big bruise. You might still have a small bruise on your hand, and you might get a small plaster or a cotton wool ball to wear home.

I would like to see a drawing example of the treatment needle

I would like to see a drawing of what my appointment might be like

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