Behind the Drapes of General Anaesthesia

Abstract

‘Anaesthesia’, a term coined from the Greek words ‘an’ and ‘aesthesis’, directly translates to ‘loss of sensation’. Even in my early stages of anaesthesiology, I confirm that the scope and domain of the specialty surpasses the limitations of direct translation. In fact, anaesthesiology is multifaceted, extending beyond the boundaries of operating theatres, and plays an instrumental role in critical care, perioperative and pain medicine. It’s time to filter out falsity and uphold that the expertise behind surgical drapes encompasses more than crosswords and Candy Crush.

Anaesthesia is fundamental during each phase of the perioperative continuum, from the very first contemplation of surgery through to postoperative recovery. Increasing age and multimorbidity has redefined the surgical population, rendering procedures once considered routine, increasingly challenging. Consequently, anaesthetic preparation is ever important, beginning long before initial incision, and requiring careful consideration to identify high-risk surgical candidates, personalise perioperative planning, and advocate for patient safety.