Anaesthesia & Pain Management FAQ

Almost all major brain and spine surgeries (such as craniotomies, microdiscectomies, disc replacements, and fusions) are performed under general anaesthesia. This means you will be completely asleep and feel absolutely no pain during the procedure. Minor procedures or nerve mapping may use local anaesthesia with conscious sedation.

Your anaesthetic will be administered by a highly qualified Specialist Anaesthetist, a medical doctor who has undergone extensive residency training in anaesthesia, pain management, and critical care. Dr Aliashkevich partners exclusively with premier, trusted Melbourne anaesthetic groups.

Strict fasting is essential for your safety to prevent stomach contents from entering your lungs under anaesthesia. The standard rule is: (1) **NO food or milk** for 6 hours prior to your scheduled admission time, and (2) You may drink **clear fluids** (water only, no juice or coffee) up to 2 hours before your admission. You will receive precise fasting hours from the hospital during your pre-admission call.

We employ a multi-modal pain-management strategy. This includes: (1) Local anaesthetic wound infiltration during surgery to block early pain signals, (2) Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) where you can press a button to self-administer safe, preset micro-doses of pain relief, and (3) A structured oral pain medication plan as you transition to ward recovery.

The most common side effects are mild and temporary. They include: (1) Sore throat or hoarseness (from the breathing tube, which resolves in 1-2 days), (2) Nausea or vomiting (which is treated immediately with intravenous anti-emetics), (3) Drowsiness or mild confusion, and (4) Shivering or feeling cold upon waking.