The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Anaesthetics
Minimising the discomfort of painful procedures
MINIMISING THE DISCOMFORT OF PAINFUL PROCEDURES
Anaesthetics, or anaesthesia, helps our surgeons to carry out procedures with minimum discomfort for patients
About anaesthetics
Anaesthetics, also called anaesthesia, is a medical specialty dedicated to the removal of pain and sensation during surgical or invasive procedures. There are different types of anaesthetic and it's suitable for children and adults.
Your anaesthetist and consultant will discuss which one is the most appropriate to your procedure. It's considered to be one of the safest areas of healthcare yet it's important to have a thorough assessment beforehand.
General anaesthetic is usually given for major operations. It induces a state of controlled unconsciousness (a bit like being asleep) so you shouldn't feel pain. Local or regional anaesthetics are usually given for minor procedures. They involve injecting anaesthetic to numb the area of the body being operated on. You shouldn't feel pain but you may feel pressure and movement.
Nerve blocks and epidurals are examples of regional anaesthetics.
Our expertise
If you're having general anaesthetic, our consultant anaesthetists and paediatric anaesthetists will assess you beforehand and monitor you throughout.
Need to know
During a caudal epidural, an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as hydrocortisone, is injected round the areas of inflammation in the spinal canal. This injection is used when nerves in the lower back are inflamed due to irritation from either spinal stenosis (a degenerative narrowing of the spinal...
An epidural is commonly used to give pain relief during childbirth. It is a type of local anaesthetic which is injected into your spine to numb the nerves in your womb and cervix that send pain signals to your brain. It can help during a long, complicated or especially painful labour.
Our Anaesthetics locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Christie Private Care
Wilmslow Road M20 4BX Manchester
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
The Wilmslow Hospital
52-54 Alderley Road SK9 1NY Wilmslow
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.