| Anaesthetist | A specialist doctor who gives anaesthetics, manages pain, and looks after you before, during and after surgery. |
| Anaesthetic | Medicine that makes you unconscious (general anaesthetic) or numbs part of your body (regional anaesthetic) so you do not feel pain during surgery. |
| General anaesthetic (GA) | Medicine given through a drip and/or breathing mask that makes you fully asleep during your operation. |
| Spinal anaesthetic | An injection in the lower back that numbs your body from the waist down for a few hours. Often used for hip, knee and bowel surgery. |
| Epidural | A thin tube placed in the back to give continuous pain relief during and after surgery. |
| Nerve block | An injection of local anaesthetic near a nerve to numb a particular area of the body (for example shoulder or leg). |
| Local anaesthetic | Medicine that numbs a small area of the body. |
| PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) | A pump connected to your drip that lets you give yourself safe doses of strong pain medicine when you need it. |
| Paracetamol | A common pain-relieving medicine, often given regularly after surgery. |
| Opioids | Strong pain medicines such as morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl or tapentadol. They work well but may cause side effects like nausea, drowsiness or constipation. |
| Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) | Medicines such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or celecoxib that reduce pain and swelling. Not suitable for everyone. |
| Arterial line | A thin tube placed in the wrist artery to measure blood pressure continuously and take blood samples during major surgery. |
| Catheter (urinary) | A thin tube placed into the bladder to drain urine during or after surgery. |
| Drain | A tube placed during surgery to remove excess fluid or blood from the body while healing. |
| ICU (intensive care unit) | A specialised hospital ward where patients are monitored very closely after major or complicated surgery. |
| HDU (high dependency unit) | A hospital ward providing closer monitoring than a normal ward, but less intensive than ICU. |
| Enhanced recovery (ERAS) | A modern program that helps patients recover more quickly after surgery by focusing on good nutrition, pain relief, early mobilisation and careful monitoring. |
| Anastomosis | A surgical join between two parts of the bowel. |
| Leak (anastomotic leak) | A complication where fluid leaks from a bowel join. Rare, but closely monitored for after major bowel surgery. |
| Pre-assessment clinic | A clinic visit or phone call before surgery to check your health, review medications and plan your anaesthetic safely. |
| Fasting | Not eating or drinking for a set time before surgery to keep your stomach empty and reduce risks during anaesthesia. |
Specialist anaesthetist, Perth