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Anaesthesiology

Our anaesthesiologists, intensivists and pain specialists are at your service in the Anaesthesia department. Not only during the operation, but also before and after.

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What do we do for you?

The anesthesiologist will provide anesthesia during your operation or treatment. The anesthetic ensures that you feel as little pain as possible during and after the treatment. Before the operation or treatment, you will discuss with the anesthesiologist which anesthesia suits you and your operation. The anesthesiologist will explain what is going to happen and keep a close eye on you during and after the operation.

We offer, among other things:

  • Care during treatment in the operating room.  
  • Care for treatments outside the operating room
  • Care for treatment in the Intensive Care Unit
  • Care for pain: read more on the page Pain treatment

What care do we offer?

Care Before Surgery

The care of the anaesthesiologist starts before your treatment: at the preoperative consultation hour. You will speak to one of our employees there. The anaesthesiologist will ask you specific questions and conduct an examination if necessary. This gives us a good picture of your health. The anaesthesiologist will then discuss with you which anaesthesia is best for you and your treatment. You will make agreements about this together. This is called an anesthesia plan.

You may speak to a different anesthesiologist during the consultation hour than the one who will take care of you during the treatment. That is why we write down all your details and comments in the plan. This way we can take the best possible care of you.

Care during surgery

If you are admitted to the nursing ward, you will first enter the preparation room (holding) before the operation. There you will receive an IV, patches to monitor your heart and a blood pressure belt. This is necessary to be able to keep a close eye on you with the monitoring equipment during the treatment. We will ask you what your name is, what your date of birth is and what treatment you will receive. Then we will take you to the operating room.

Will you receive an epidural with a tube, such as an epidural catheter? Then the anesthesiologist can place it on the holding or in the operating room. Together with you and the entire team in the operating room, we go through a final checklist. You can also ask questions.

Then we give you the anesthesia, as agreed in the anesthesia plan. The anesthetic is given for as long as the treatment lasts and adapted to what you need.

Post-Surgery Care

After the operation, you will go to the recovery room or to the intensive care unit. There we will continue to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. You will receive extra pain relief if necessary. We will call your contact person to tell you how the operation went.

If you can safely do without monitoring equipment, we will take you to the nursing ward. You can have visitors there.

Care for procedures outside the operating room

Sometimes we also give anesthesia for other treatments and examinations. To ensure that you are comfortable during the treatment, you will be given an anesthetic. We will discuss this with you in advance. For example:

Aftercare in the nursing ward

Have you received an epidural? Then a nurse specialist or anesthesiologist will visit you every day in the nursing ward. He or she will discuss with you whether your anesthetic is working properly. If necessary, we adjust the medication. We also check the place where the epidural was placed.

Special areas of interest

  • Tailor-made anesthesia, which suits you as a patient and the type of surgery you will receive.
  • Pain blocks for pain in cancer (treatments). This is a treatment that temporarily switches off the nerves. For example, through a spinal catheter (an epidural).

Clinical studies

We do clinical studies. This examination helps us to improve our care and pain relief. We may ask you to participate in this study. One of our specialists will provide you with information about this and ask for your permission. You will be given sufficient time to think about this and choose whether you want to participate. You can always say no. This will not affect your treatment.

Frequently asked questions

What types of anesthesia are there?

  • General anesthesia (anesthesia): With general anesthesia, you will receive medication through an IV. You sleep temporarily and do not notice anything of the operation.
  • Regional anesthesia: In regional anesthesia, the anesthesiologist only numbs a part of your body. This happens, for example, during surgery on your leg. You will then receive an epidural. This is called spinal anesthesia. You stay awake during an epidural.

    Sometimes you will receive regional anesthesia as extra pain relief. This helps during and after major surgery. For example, in the event of an operation on your abdomen or lungs. The anesthesiologist will then place a thin tube in your back. This is called an epidural catheter. After that, you will receive general anesthesia. Sometimes you will also be given extra local anaesthetic (a specific, small spot on your body).

  • Sedation: In some examinations or treatments, you will receive sedation. This is also called a sedation. You will receive sleeping pills through an IV. This way you will notice less of the examination or treatment. Sometimes you will also receive pain relief. The anaesthesiologist will discuss this with you in advance.

How do you prepare?

Good preparation is important for safe anaesthesia. There are also certain rules. You will therefore receive a brochure with all the information.

The day before the operation, the Patient Logistics and Capacity Management department will call you. You will then be told what time you will be operated on and how you can best prepare.

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Disclaimer

This translation was generated automatically based on information in Dutch. It has not been reviewed by a medical specialist. The purpose of this translation is to make our information accessible to non-Dutch speakers. However, this information should not be considered a substitute for medical advice from your treating physician. The Netherlands Cancer Institute cannot guarantee the accuracy of this translation. For medical questions or advice, please consult your physician.

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