Your anaesthetist's care starts before your procedure, with an assessment of your health and a plan to make you as well prepared as possible. It continues through the anaesthetic itself, with constant monitoring, and into recovery, with pain relief and nausea prevention planned in advance.
Before your procedure
The aim is to find and reduce risks early. Your anaesthetist will:
- review your health, medicines, allergies and previous anaesthetics
- identify conditions that may need attention first, such as poorly controlled diabetes, a recent chest infection or untreated sleep apnoea
- arrange tests where they would change the plan
- advise on fasting, medicines, and stopping smoking or vaping
- discuss your options, the risks and the costs, so you can make an informed decision.
Sometimes this means recommending changes before surgery, or a different setting, such as a hospital rather than a day surgery or dental practice.
During your procedure
Your anaesthetist stays with you throughout. They monitor your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature, adjust your anaesthetic or sedation, and give fluids and medicines as needed. ANZCA publishes standards for the monitoring and facilities required wherever anaesthesia is given.
Pain relief
A good pain plan starts before the procedure. It often combines several approaches, so that each can be used at a lower dose:
- regular simple pain relief
- local anaesthetic or a nerve block to numb the area
- stronger pain medicines, when they are needed
- non-medicine measures such as ice, elevation and rest.
Tell your anaesthetist about any long-term pain or pain medicines you take, so the plan suits you.
Nausea prevention
If you have felt sick after a previous anaesthetic, or you get motion sickness, tell your anaesthetist. They can change the anaesthetic and give medicines to reduce the chance of nausea.
Recovery
After your procedure, staff in the recovery area monitor you closely while the anaesthetic wears off. Your anaesthetist remains responsible for your anaesthetic care until you are ready to leave recovery. Read after your anaesthetic.
Sources
- ANZCA. PG07 Guideline on pre-anaesthesia consultation and patient preparation (2024; Appendix 1, Fasting, revised June 2026). June 2024; Appendix 1 June 2026.
- ANZCA. What does an anaesthetist do?. Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- ANZCA. Professional documents (including PS55 facilities, PG18 monitoring, PS19 monitored care, PS04(A) post-anaesthesia care, PG29(A) children). Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- healthdirect Australia. General anaesthetic. Last reviewed Dec 2025.
- Written by
- Altitude Creative, health content team, on behalf of Dr Walid Aly
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In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner.