First operation

Help, I’m scared of the anesthetic!

Many people are afraid of anesthesia.

(Bild: Zaiets Roman - stock.adobe.com)

Simon S. (33): "Dear team, I'm probably due to have a knee operation soon. It will be my first operation and I'm a bit scared of anesthesia. Is this justified?"

Nowadays, anesthesia is a very safe and effective procedure for carrying out necessary operations.

"During the anesthesia consultation, the anesthesiologist will inform you about the possibilities of general and partial anesthesia and ask you about your individual risks in detail. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, the anaesthetist will also refer to further findings such as a blood count or lung function test. If necessary, any abnormal findings must be optimized before the operation. You will therefore be well prepared for the operation under anesthesia. Only then does the anaesthetist give the go-ahead for the operation," says Primaria Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sibylle Langenecker, Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Wien.

Years of training create trust
In general, complications or acute illnesses can always occur around operations. Frail and previously ill patients have higher risks. But competence creates trust: Anaesthetists are specialized in acute situations thanks to years of training and further education. As with airline pilots, this also includes training on simulators to ensure they are optimally equipped for any situation.

Anaesthetists are professionals
Incidentally, around 75 percent of emergency doctor bases throughout Austria are staffed by anaesthetists, so they don't just help in operating theatres and intensive care units. This means that you will always have someone at your side during your knee operation to look after you, monitor your organ functions and stabilize them with the most effective medication if necessary.

"The best sleep"
Younger patients who - like you - are about to undergo their first operation are understandably often a little more anxious. A mild sedative tablet "beforehand" might help. After that, you may understand what many people say about anesthesia: "That was the best sleep."