Anaesthesia for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Your anaesthesiologist’s primary responsibility is your well-being and safety throughout your operation. When the surgery is in progress, your anaesthesiologist will be by your side at all times to monitor your vital functions such as heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, breathing and body temperature. He is also responsible for replacing be given medication to treat pain during anaesthesia so that you will remain comfortable during and after surgery.

After your heart surgery, you will not regain consciousness immediately. Instead you will be transferred to the Cardiothoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) for observation and stabilisation. For operations which may not require you to be admitted to CTICU, you will regain consciousness after your operation. You will then be transferred to the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where your anaesthesiologist continues to be responsible for your care. He will ensure that your vital functions are normal and that you recover from the effects of anaesthesia. He will also manage any problems that may arise postoperatively.