Here are some things you can do to make your anaesthetic safer and your surgery more successful.

GENERAL

1. Get physically fit - regular exercise like walking or swimming for a few weeks prior to surgery.
2. Reduce alcohol consumption.
3. Cease smoking-ideally for six weeks before your anaesthetic.
4. Cease recreational drugs and herbal medications for four weeks.
5. Be well rested and get a good nights sleep before your anaesthetic.

MEDICAL

1. Know about your allergies to medication and be sure to tell your anaesthetist.
2. Bring a list of your medications and their dosages.
3. Some medication will be ceased prior to surgery – check with your surgeon or general practitioner.
4. If you have serious medical conditions such as heart or lung diseases or diabetes, be sure to check with your treating specialists and general practitioner.
If you have a letter about your condition please show this to your anaesthetist.
5. If you have had an anaesthetic problem in the past, please bring any letters explaining the difficulties you have experienced.

FASTING

Usually no food for six hours and no fluid for four hours is recommended prior to surgery. Sometimes clear fluids ( water/lemonade/apple juice ) not milk and other fruit juices are allowed up to two hours before especially in young children. Food coming up from the stomach in to the lungs during an anaesthetic can be a life threatening complication.