Please be reassured that your anaesthetist has undergone rigorous training and assessment to ensure that your anaesthetic is a safe as possible.

Your anaesthetist will advise you on what anaesthetic techniques will give you greatest benefit for the least amount of risk as possible. Making these decisions is difficult, but your anaesthetist will want to help you so that you can make the choices that are right for you.

Please be aware that any anaesthetic can have side effects and complications. These will depend on whether you receive a local, regional or general anaesthetic.

General anaesthetic: Commonly occurring side effects include feeling sick and vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, headache, itching, pain during the injection of drugs, and confusion.

Uncommon side effects and complications include chest infections, bladder problems, damage to teeth, lips or tongue and awareness (becoming conscious during your operation).

Regional anaesthetic: Commonly occurring side effects include pain during the injection of drugs, headache, dizziness, bruising and soreness, and aches and pains.

Uncommon side effects and complications include bladder problems and slow breathing.

Rare complications to all types of anaesthetic include eye damage, serious allergy to drugs, nerve damage, equipment failure and death. There are probably about five deaths for every million anaesthetics in the UK.

Please ask your anaesthetist about potential side effects and complications to your anaesthetic.

Please be reassured that your anaesthetist has undergone rigorous training and assessment to ensure your anaesthetic is a safe as possible.