LETTERS: Undergoing a surgical operation is a major event in a person's life and it's normal for the person to feel worried.
Patients who follow the medical team's advice will recover sooner, with a shortened hospital stay.
A team of healthcare professionals — known as the perioperative team, which includes surgeons, anaesthetists, ward doctors, operating theatre and ward nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, and general practitioners — will help in that recovery journey.
Surgery is not possible without anaesthesia. Advances in anaesthesia, such as complex monitoring, intensive care ward availability and development of high safety profile drugs, have made it possible for greater advances in performing highly complex surgeries, such as transplant procedures.
Comorbidities — such as hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, chronic respiratory disease and kidney disorders — make the course of surgery and anaesthesia complicated.
Smoking, alcohol consumption and other habits pose more hazards. A sedentary lifestyle and being overweight could affect the outcome of surgery and especially anaesthesia.
Public awareness of anaesthesia is generally low compared with surgical awareness. I would like to share information about how patients can contribute to the safe conduct of surgery and anaesthesia. First, have medical check-ups at least annually to identify any medical disorder.
Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes may cause secondary organ damage and kidney impairment, eye problems, hypertension and cardiac problems.
Patients, such as those who are known as hypertensives, and diabetics require regular check-ups to monitor and prevent complications.
Smoking increases perioperative respiratory complications. Smoking must be stopped at least for six weeks before surgery, if not forever.
Heavy alcohol consumption might damage many organs, especially the liver.
The liver is an important organ, especially during anaesthesia, and liver failure is life-threatening.
Patients need to stop drinking alcohol for a considerable time before surgery. A healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet, exercise and weight reduction, helps in ensuring patient safety during surgery.
Any high-risk behaviour, such as drug and substance abuse, should be reported before surgery.
Please inform your anaesthetists about your medical problems and medications so that they can do a detailed assessment and make any necessary change to make your surgical journey safe.
Please report any health supplement, including any traditional product taken, to your anaesthetists. Get a letter from your doctor about your condition.
Family members and blood relatives who suffered complications during surgery and anaesthesia should be reported since some hereditary conditions may pose danger.
Good dental hygiene is necessary and a visit to the dentist might help. If you have loose teeth or crowns, a visit to your dentist may reduce the risk of damage to your teeth during an operation.
Report your allergies and any recent flu and chest infections and pregnancy.
Follow all preoperative instructions issued by the anaesthetists strictly, for example, fasting before surgery and instructions regarding your medications. The most important thing is to communicate with your surgeons and anaesthetists. Remember that it is a shared decision-making, in which the patients have a greater say.
DR THIAGARAJAN PRABA
Associate professor
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
AIMST University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times