Your Outpatient Stay

Anesthesia Consultation

The anesthesia consultation takes place at our clinic. Please either send the completed and signed anesthesia questionnaire in advance or bring it with you in the case of short-term admission (< 7 days).

Please bring the following to the anesthesia consultation:

• Blutgruppenausweis 
• Blood group ID card, allergy card
• Advance healthcare directive
• Anticoagulation ID card (Quick card), ID for endocarditis prophylaxis
• Current medications in original packaging, not removed from blister packs
• Completed anesthesia questionnaire (if not already sent to the clinic)
• Medical reports, X-rays, test results (including lab work and ECG) and any general practitioner reports
  

Admission Time

Your admission time can be found on the reservation confirmation sent to you by mail. If no time is specified, we will inform you through the following channels:

• By SMS: We can send you an SMS with your admission time the day before. Please provide us with your mobile number for this service.
• By Phone on the Day Before: You may also call us the day before admission to confirm your admission time. We are available Monday to Friday between 1 pm and 5 pm at T +41 41 784 09 70. If your procedure is scheduled for Monday, please call on the Friday before.

Please check in at the clinic reception at your admission time and arrive fasting.

Eating and Drinking Before Admission

For your safety, it is important that you arrive fasting. You may eat a light meal up to six hours before your admission time; after that, no further food is permitted. Up to two hours before admission, you may drink water (non-carbonated), tea, or black coffee (without milk or cream).

In the two hours immediately before admission, please do not consume anything, including candies or gum.

Discharge Home

Discharge after the procedure will be coordinated with your surgeon and anesthesiologist. Please follow these guidelines for 24 hours after your procedure:Gehen Sie nur in Begleitung nach Hause.

• Go home accompanied. For safe care, children and patients with disabilities should have two companions. 
•  
• Ensure you are not alone at home.
• Do not participate in road traffic independently, whether on foot or as the driver of a vehicle. Your coordination and attention may still be limited, even if you feel the effects of the medication have worn off.
• Avoid making important decisions or signing any contractss.

Pain Management

Pain medication will be administered during the operation, sufficient for the initial hours afterward. Your pain management will be optimized further during your stay at the day clinic to ensure you are as comfortable as possible when discharged.

Eating and Drinking After Discharge

You may eat and drink without restrictions unless your surgeon has given other instructions.

Follow-up Appointments

Your surgeon will provide information on any necessary follow-up appointments.

Emergencies or Postoperative Bleeding

In case of postoperative bleeding or any other emergency related to the procedure, please contact your surgeon immediately or reach the AndreasKlinik emergency department at T +41 41 784 01 44..

The Greek word "anesthesia" means "without sensation" or "without perception." Modern anesthesia techniques make it possible to undergo surgery painlessly and safely.

In the pre-anesthesia consultation, the anesthesiologist will work with you to determine the most suitable anesthesia method for the planned procedure. Your anesthesiologist is responsible for your care before, during, and after the procedure. In the operating room, anesthesia nurses will also be involved in your care. Our team of anesthesiologists is responsible for your post-procedure care in the recovery room or day clinic, with special attention to optimal pain management.

The technical equipment and monitoring devices you may notice in the pre-op room are used to monitor your breathing and circulation. Continuous monitoring will take place throughout the procedure.

There are three main types of anesthesia:

• General anesthesia
• Regional anesthesia
• Local anesthesia

In general anesthesia, also known as a "narcosis," you are placed in a sleep-like, sensation-free state. This is achieved by administering sleep-inducing medications, pain relievers, and, in most cases, a muscle relaxant. Additionally, your breathing will be supported, or you may be placed on artificial ventilation. Typically, the airway is secured using either an endotracheal tube (breathing tube) or a laryngeal mask.

Special monitoring devices continuously measure vital functions and medication levels. Throughout the entire operation, the anesthesia team will be by your side, ensuring you are carefully monitored and supported at all times.

Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia involves blocking pain in specific areas of the body while maintaining consciousness. Pain relief is achieved by injecting a local anesthetic—a medication that temporarily interrupts nerve transmission—and pain relievers near the nerves. This blocks the transmission of pain signals to the brain and the brain's commands to the muscles.

We differentiate between spinal regional anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks.

Spinal regional anesthesia includes both epidural and spinal anesthesia. In our outpatient setting, we use spinal anesthesia.

With spinal anesthesia, a very thin needle is used to pierce the dura mater (the tough membrane surrounding the spinal cord), and the medication is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in which the spinal cord and nerves are suspended. The main advantage of this method is the rapid onset of action. Spinal anesthesia is suitable for most surgeries below the abdomen and on the lumbar spine.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Peripheral nerve blocks are primarily used for surgeries on the shoulder, arms, hands, and legs. Individual nerves or nerve bundles are visualized using ultrasound, and a needle is carefully advanced close to the nerves under direct visualization. Alternatively, or in combination with ultrasound, nerve stimulation is used. Weak electrical impulses from the needle can induce muscle twitches, helping precisely identify the nerves. Once the target nerves are located, the anesthetic is injected via the advanced needle to numb them.

A special form of peripheral nerve block is intravenous regional anesthesia. In this method, blood is expelled from the arm or leg using an elastic band, and a pressure cuff prevents blood from re-entering the limb. A local anesthetic is then injected into a vein, spreading throughout the arm or leg to block nerve conduction. The benefit of this approach is that sensation in the limb returns shortly after the pressure cuff is released.

In rare cases, regional anesthesia may not take full effect, or the nerves may become numb more slowly than expected. For this reason, the anesthesia's effectiveness is tested before surgery. If, during the operation, you still feel pain—which is very uncommon—it's crucial to inform your anesthesiologist immediately. The anesthesia team can then administer additional pain relief or switch to general anesthesia if necessary.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is used only for very small areas of the body. A local anesthetic is injected around the surgical site to numb the area, providing pain relief. This method is commonly applied in minor procedures, such as small skin surgeries or the insertion of pacemakers. If necessary, additional pain relievers or sedatives can be administered to ensure comfort.

Side Effects and Risks

Anesthesia today is safe, but all surgical procedures and anesthesia methods carry some risks and side effects. These depend on your health status, age, and the type and urgency of the procedure.

Please review the specific risks in the separate form "Information and Consent for Anesthesia." Your anesthesiologist will discuss all relevant information with you in the pre-operative consultation to ensure you are fully informed..

Your anesthesiologist will be responsible for your care before, during, and after the procedure. In the operating room, anesthesia nursing staff will also be there to support you. After surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room or day clinic, where your breathing and circulation are closely observed. Pain management, initiated during the operation, will continue and be adjusted as needed. If you experience pain or nausea, please inform the nursing staff immediately.

Our Anesthesia Team

Our specialist anesthesiologists and pain management experts are committed to providing you with comprehensive, skilled care. Collaboration with other specialists and departments at AndreasKlinik ensures that you are in capable and caring hands.