Davy the
Detective
Finding out
about anaesthetics
s to ,
ant
g
y w ethin
v
a
som
n D
tive
Whe about detec p
a
w
el
kno comes ttle h ).
be
a li friends
he
h
(wit m his
fro
Information about anaesthesia
for young people
This is part of a series of information leaflets about anaesthesia.
You can find the rest at www.rcoa.ac.uk/childrensinfo.
One day not long ago
One day not long ago
My toe hurts!
My toe hurts!
ON
NNI
U
B IO
UN
SURG
EON
SURG
EON
B
E
TO
E
TO
Gran, what’s
Gran,
what’s
an anaesthetic?
an anaesthetic?
That needs an operation
That
needsanaesthetic.
an operation
- under
- under anaesthetic.
Hmmm - good question.
Hmmm
- good
question.
Have you
got your
notebook
Have you gotwith
youryou?
notebook
with you?
2
Davy’s notes
notess
y’s note
Dav
y’s
Dav
General anaesthetic
ic s you completely
sthetmake
ic
anae
sthet
ine that
ral anae
GeneMedic
ral
Gene
letely
compthink
letely
you
ing part
make
the
thats. make
if comp
inesciou
that
Medic
It’s ssasyou
ine
Medic
uncon
partfor a
ing
think
ing
the
think
off
if
the switched part
as ifbeen
It’s has
as
s.brain
It’s
sciou
uncon
uncon
your s.
of sciou
for aa
off
for
hed
off
switc
hed
been
switc
feel
or
has
has been
brain
see, hear
your .brain
of while
your
of
You can’t
feel
or
.
feel
sleep
hear
or
see,
deep
hear
y
see,
can’t
reall
You
while
.. You
a bit like a
while
ing,can’t
anyth
.
sleep
.
deep
sleep
y
deep
of
reall
y
a
kinds
reall
like
a
bit
some
like
a
and
bit
ing,
anyth
ing,fora operations
anyth
Used
of
kinds of
some kinds
and some
tions
and
opera
foralopera
.
Used
for
teststions
Used
medic
tests
.. ic
alanae
sthet
tests
medic
medic
Localal
ic makes part of your
sthet
ic
anae
sthet
l anae
LocalMedic
Loca
that
ine
your
offeel
your
part’tof
pain.
part
make
that so
make
inenumb
that
it ssdoesn
Medic
ine
Medic
body
pain.
feel
pain.
’t
feel
doesn
’t
tion.
it, doesn
so it
so
numb
spray or injec
body
body
be cream
Cannumb
tion.
injection.
or injec
spray or
cream
be
cream
Can
ist ,, spray
Can
sthet
Anaebe
r.
ist
docto
sthet
istally trained
AnaeAsthet
Anae
speci
r.ic medicine and
docto
r.
ed
docto
train
ally
sthet
specially
anae
the ed
AA speci
youtrain
Gives
and or
inetest
and
medic
ine
ic
medic
sthet
ic
anae
your
sthet
the
for
anae
s
you
the
sciou
you
Gives
uncon
Gives
keeps you
or
test
or
your
test
for your
sciouss for
unconsciou
you
uncon
you
keeps
keeps
tion.
opera
tion.with you all the time while you’re
opera
tion.
opera
Stays
you’r
while
time tion
while
makeee sure
the
time
to you’r
all the
you test
all
with
you
or opera
with
Stays
Stays
g your
havin
sure
sure
make
to
make
tion
to
opera
tion
or
s.
opera
test
or unconsciou
yoursafe
testand
your
havin
havin
yougg are
s.
able
be
sciou
s.
d
uncon
sciou
shoul
and
uncon
you
ic,
safe
and
areesafe
youBefor
are
your anaesthet
you
able
be
d
able
be
shoul
d
t
you
shoul
abou
ic,
you
talk
sthet
ic,
and
anae
sthet
ist
your
anae
sthet
e
youryour anae
Befor
Befor
to emeet
t
abou
t
talk
abou
and
talk
ist
and
sthet
ist
anae
sthet
your
en.
anae
happ
meet
your
to
to
meet’s going
to what
en.
happen.
to happ
going to
’s going
what’s
what
... and that’s as much
and
that’sIfas
as
much
......asand
that’s
much
I know.
you
want to
as
know.
youwhy
want
to you
as
II know.
IfIf you
want
to
find
out more,
don’t
findget
outyour
more,
why
don’t
you
find
out
more,
why
don’t
you
friends to help
you
get
your
friends
to
help
you
get
your
friends
to
help
you
investigate? Remember what
investigate?
Remember
what
investigate?
Remember
what
Grandpa
used to say
Grandpa
used to
to
say -Grandpa
used
knowledge
is say
power.
knowledge isis power.
power.
knowledge
Suzie! Luka! Meet me at
Suzie!house
Luka! Meet
Meet
me
at some
Suzie!
Luka!
me
at
Gran’s
- we’ve
got
Gran’s house
house
we’ve
got
some
Gran’s
-- we’ve
got
detective
work
tosome
do!
detective work
work to
to do!
do!
detective
3
Later that
that day
day
Later
and that’s
that’s why
why II need
need your
your
...... and
help. Any
Any ideas
ideas team?
team?
help.
HYPERLINK:
HYPERLINK:
www.rcoa.ac.uk/childrensinfo
www.rcoa.ac.uk/childrensinfo
My dad
dad works
works at
at the
the hospital,
hospital, he
he
My
might tell
tell us
us something
something -- I’ll
I’ll text
text him.
him.
might
4
beans
beans
beans
beans
beans
beans
custard
custard
custard
custard
Nadia couldn’t
couldn’t have
have any
any food
food
Nadia
And my
my cousin
cousin Nadia
Nadia was
was born
born
And
before
she
had
her
anaesthetic,
but
before
she
had
her
anaesthetic,
but
with aa funny
funny shaped
shaped foot.
foot. She’s
She’s had
had lots
lots of
of
with
it’s
ok
for
her
to
eat
now.
And
she’s
it’s
ok
for
her
to
eat
now.
And
she’s
operations for
for it.
it. In
In fact,
fact, she’s
she’s in
in
operations
allowed to
to have
have visitors
visitors as
as well.
well.
allowed
hospital now.
now.
hospital
Let’s go
go to
to the
the hospital.
hospital.
Let’s
Can we
we borrow
borrow this
this for
for aa little
little while?
while?
Can
Davy’s
Dav
y’s not
notes
es
Fasting
Fast
ing mea
means
ns not
not eatin
eatingg or
or drin
drinking
king..
You cann
You
cannot
ot have
have any
any food
food,, milk
milk,, chew
chewing
ing
gum,, swee
gum
sweets
ts or
or fizzy
fizzy drin
drinks
ks for
for six
six hour
hourss
before
befo
re the
the anae
anaesthe
sthetic.
tic.
You cann
You
cannot
ot have
have any
any wate
waterr or
or fruit
fruit
squash
squa
sh for
for two
two hour
hourss befo
before
re the
the
anaesthe
anae
sthetic.
tic.
Ok, but
but be
be careful
careful with
with it.
it.
Ok,
Fasting
Fast
ing is
is very
very impo
importan
rtant.
t. If
If you
you have
have
anything
anyt
hing in
in your
your stom
stomach
ach duri
during
ng an
an
anaesthe
anae
sthetic,
tic, it
it migh
mightt come
come back
back up
up whil
whilee
you are
you
are unco
unconscio
nscious
us and
and get
get into
into your
your
lungs.
lung
s.
Let’s go
go detecting
detecting -- knowledge
knowledge isis power.
power.
Let’s
Bye.
Bye.
HHOOSSPPITITAALL
DAVYY
DAV
DDAAVVYY
5
MA
ENT IN
RAN
CE
Dad’s taking a tour round the
operating theatres. We’re late
already! Let’s go!
HOSPITAL
PORTER
AMBULANCE
HOSPITAL
Welcome to today’s tour
of the operating theatres.
We are going to show
you around and explain
Sorry Dad. about anaesthetics.
OPERATING THEATRE
AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY
I’m an operating department practitioner
- that’s ODP for short. I’ve been trained to
work in operating theatres, helping to look after
I’m a play specialist.
patients during their anaesthetics, operations
I’ve been trained to help young
and while they are waking up. Most hospitals
people understand what is happening
have specially trained theatre nurses
to them in hospital. Not all hospitals have
as well as ODPs.
play specialists. If there isn’t one when
you go into hospital, a nurse
will help you.
ODP
6
ANAESTHETIC ROOM
Monitoring
Monitoringequipment
equipment
Cupboards
Cupboards
Intravenous
Intravenousdrip
drip
Anaesthetic
Anaestheticmachine
machine
This
Thisisiswhere
wherepatients
patientshave
have
their
theiranaesthetic.
anaesthetic.
Come
Comeinside
insideand
and
we’ll
we’llshow
showyou
youaround.
around.
ODP
ODP
Fridge
Fridgefor
formedicines
medicines
Patient
Patienttrolley
trolley
7
Cannula
Is there anyone here having an
operation who would like to have a close
look at some of the equipment?
Davy’s notes
A small bendy plastic tube that goes into
a vein - usually on the back of your hand.
A needle is used to put it in, but then
taken out very quickly, just leaving the
bendy tube behind.
A cannula is used for giving medicines
This is an anaesthetic mask.
and fluids in veins.
Would you like to try it on?
spray
or
cream
hetic
Local anaest
Numbs your skin if you need a blood test or
need to have a cannula put in, so that you
Does it hurt?
don’t feel the needle too much.
The cream is sometimes called ‘magic cream’.
It is usually put onto the back of your hand
and covered by a plaster to stop it rubbing
Ssst, mmmm
off. It takes at least half an hour to work,
more.
or
hours
two
for
but then lasts
Translation - It’s soft! Smells of plastic.
And here’s a cannula. When
we’re getting you ready for your
operation, I’ll need to squeeze your arm
gently to help the anaesthetist put it in.
It’s not usually too uncomfortable if you
have the local anaesthetic on
your hand first.
Any questions?
Can I have a
go at something?
ODP
Of course
you can - climb up
on this trolley.
8
This is some of the
equipment that your anaesthetist
will use to make sure that you’re
ok while you’re unconscious.
80
99
115/70
Pulse and oxygen
monitor - shows
how well you are
breathing.
Heart monitor shows that your
heart is beating
properly.
ODP
Blood pressure monitor
- measures your blood
pressure every few minutes.
Davy’s notes
How is a general anaesthetic given?
There are two different ways to do it.
Through a cannula
The anaesthetist puts medicine through a cannula with
a syringe. It can be uncomfortable as it goes in. First
you taste something in your mouth, then you feel
dizzy. The next thing you know, you’re waking up and
everything is done. It’s very fast.
Using a mask
You breathe anaesthetic medicine in. It smells a bit like
felt-tip pens. The medicine takes about a minute to work.
You still need a cannula later, but they put it in after
you’re unconscious, so you don’t feel it at all.
Getting the right dose of anaesthetic
You get weighed when you arrive at the hospital.
They use your weight to work out the right dose
of medicine for you.
Other medicines you might get while you’re
under anaesthetic
Medicines to control the pain after your operation.
Medicines to stop you feeling sick.
You may also be given fluid into a vein (through
an intravenous drip) if you’ve not had a drink
for a while.
9
So once you’re
unconscious and you’ve got all
that monitoring stuff on - what
happens after that?
We take you in there to
have your operation.
00.0000
P
OD
Can mums stay
with their children while
they have their operation?
Each child can have one
adult to stay in the anaesthetic
room with them until they are
unconscious. Then that person
will go back to the ward or the
waiting room over there.
WAITING ROOM
What about dads?
And carers?
And grans?
10
notes
’s notes
Davy
Davy’s
up
waking up
and waking
asleep and
Stayin
Stayingg asleep
you
giving you
keep giving
will keep
hetist will
anaesthetist
Your
Your anaest
during
time during
the time
all the
ne all
medicine
hetic medici
anaest
anaesthetic
how
matter how
no matter
ion, no
operation,
or operat
test or
your
your test
takes.
long
long itit takes.
your
done your
hing isis done
everything
When
When everyt
the
you
you the
giving
giving
stop
stop
will
will
hetist
anaest
anaesthetist
few
a
few
in
a
in
off
off
wear
wear
will
it
will
it
and
and
ne
ne
medici
medici
up.
wake up.
you wake
then you
minute
minutes,s, then
When
Whenwould
wouldmy
my
gran
granbe
beable
ableto
tosee
see
me
meagain?
again?
As
Assoon
soonas
as
everything
everythingisisdone.
done.Would
Would
you
youlike
liketo
tosee
seewhere
whereyou’ll
you’ll
wake
wakeup?
up?
Yes
Yesplease!
please!
And
Andthat’s
that’sthe
theend
end
of
oftoday’s
today’stour.
tour.
AAtheatre
theatrenurse
nurseor
orODP
ODP
will
willbring
bringyou
youhere
hereand
andlook
look
after
afteryou
youuntil
untilyou’re
you’reproperly
properly
awake.
awake.IfIfyou
youfeel
feelsick
sickor
orsore,
sore,
they
theywill
willgive
giveyou
youmedicine
medicine
to
tohelp
helpyou
youfeel
feelbetter.
better.
Let’s
Let’sgo
goand
andvisit
visitNadia!
Nadia!
Thanks
ThanksDad!
Dad!Do
Doall
all
hospitals
hospitalshave
havetours
tours
like
likethis?
this?
RECOV
RECOVERY
ERYROOM
ROOM
P
OODDP
Not
Notall
allof
ofthem,
them,
but
butsome
somedo,
do,so
soit’s
it’s
always
alwaysaagood
good
idea
ideato
toask.
ask.
11
What did you dream about
during your operation?
Hi Nadia, you’ve just had an anaesthetic
haven’t you? What did it feel like? Did it hurt?
I didn’t dream
at all. I don’t think many
people do. So, why are you
asking me all these questions
anyway? Are you having an
operation?
Yes, I am.
Are you nervous about it?
I’ve had a few anaesthetics
and operations now. Mostly it’s fine. Sometimes
the injection is a bit sore, but the cream really helps.
And sometimes I’ve had some pain afterwards,
but there’s always been medicine to
make it better.
Maybe, just a little bit.
If you start to
get really worried, there’s plenty
of stuff you can do to take
your mind off things.
But some people choose to imagine
that they are somewhere really nice.
For example, I like
looking at a book.
12
Other people like to talk to
someone about what they
Davy’s notes
are worried about.
Pre-med
Medicine before your anaest
hetic.
Could be medicine to ease
pain, or
something to stop you fee
ling so nervous.
Might make you feel dizzy
or tired. You
may need to lie down aft
er taking this
medicine.
Ideas to help cope with ner
vous feelings
Looking at a book or pla
ying a game.
Listening to music.
Talking to someone.
Imagining being somewhere
nice.
My ideas
........................................
....................
........................................
....................
........................................
....................
And others find that
music helps them to relax.
So, you see Davy,
there are lots of really good
ways to relax. Guys! Where are you
going? Don’t you have more
questions for me?
Purrrrrrr.
13
Bye Nadia.
Thanks for your help detectives!
Now let’s get back to Gran’s house!
Y
DAV
Davy’s notes
the operation
How you might feel after
operation or
depends on what kind of
This
anaesthetic you’ve had.
zy or have a sore
You might feel sleepy, diz
g). If you don’t
throat (this won’t last lon
that they can
feel good, tell someone so
help you feel better.
ease any pain as
You will get medicine to
but if you need
part of the anaesthetic,
doctors.
more, ask the nurses and
Hey that’s for me!
Thanks Sergei!
ards
Eating and drinking afterw
and
can have something to eat
When you
d of operation and
drink depends on what kin
when you start
and
,
anaesthetic you’ve had
to feel hungry.
Going home
14
DAV
Y
at kind of
Again, this depends on wh
’ve had. You’ll
you
ion
anaesthetic or operat
can eat and
you
till
st
need to stay at lea
person looking
drink. Your parent or the
stay with you.
after you will be able to
It’s from the hospital. I’ve
got the date of my operation.
Davy’s notes
List of things to take to hospital
Clean clothes
Toothbrush
Favourite toy
Something to read or play with
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
What to wear for an anaesthetic and
operation
Needs to be loose and comfortable, and
easy to wash afterwards.
The hospital might give you something
to wear, maybe a gown or pyjamas.
Remember, no breakfast today
Davy, just one glass of water and don’t
forget to pack your pyjamas.
At last - the day of the operation arrives
OK Davy it’s
time to go!
15
Davy meets his anaesthetist
So, Davy, do you want
to ask me any questions?
I’ve already got a lot of
facts in my notebook, but there
are one or two more things
I need to know.
Davy’s notes
Wow! This is amazing!
What else do you want to
hear about?
Well...
How do general anaesthetics work?
The anaesthetic medicine travels through
your body to the nerves in your brain.
Your nerves stop sending or receiving
signals and this makes you unconscious
for a while.
When the anaesthetic medicine is stopped,
it wears off quickly. Then your nerves start
to work normally again and you wake up.
Are anaesthetics safe?
ANAESTHETIST
Modern anaesthetics are very safe.
You can get a sore throat or feel sick.
(This can happen to one person in every 10.)
The chance of anything really serious going
wrong is very, very small. The anaesthetist
is there all the time to make sure you are
safely unconscious.
16
As you can see from this story,
there are lots of ways to find out
about local and general anaesthetics.
Have you got any more questions? You could
make a list of them here and show them
to your anaesthetist, or use some of the
ideas in this booklet to get your answers.
Don’t forget that if you need
an anaesthetic for a test or operation,
your anaesthetist will be with you all
the time to take good care of you. And
remember - knowledge is power!
ANAE
STHE
17
TIST
My notes
18
My notes
19
Tell
us what
you think
Tell
us what
you
think
We’re always looking for ways to make these booklets better. If you
We’re always looking for ways to make these booklets better. If you have
have any suggestions, please send them to:
any suggestions, please send them to the Royal College of Anaesthetists,
The Royal College of Anaesthetists, Churchill House, 35 Red Lion Square,
Churchill House, 35 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4SG
London WC1R 4SG
Email:[email protected]
[email protected]
email:
HOSPITAL
Illustrations by Peter Richardson.
Second edition 2014. This leaflet will be reviewed within three years of publication.
© 2014 Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of
Great Britain and Ireland.