General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness. During a general anaesthetic, medicines are used to send you to sleep, so you're unaware of surgery and do not move or feel pain while it's carried out.
The anaesthetic should take effect very quickly. You'll start feeling lightheaded, before becoming unconscious within a minute or so. The anaesthetist will stay with you throughout the procedure. They'll make sure
you continue to receive the anaesthetic and that you stay in a controlled state of unconsciousness. The anaesthetist will be by your side the whole time you're asleep, carefully monitoring you, and will be there
when you wake up.
The main differences between sedation and general anaesthesia are:
your level of consciousness
the need for equipment to help support your breathing
possible side effects.
With minimal and moderate sedation, you feel comfortable, sleepy and relaxed. You may drift off to sleep at times, but will be easy to wake.
With general anaesthesia, you are completely unaware and unconscious during the procedure.
Deep sedation is between the two.
There are three different levels of intravenous sedation. They are called ‘minimal’, ‘moderate’ (sometimes also called conscious sedation) and ‘deep’ sedation. However, the levels are not precise and depend on how
sensitive a patient is to the medication used.
After your operation, the anaesthetist will stop the anaesthetic and you'll gradually wake up. General anaesthetics can affect your memory, concentration and reflexes.
You may feel hazy or groggy as you come round from the general anaesthetic.
The sedation medicine or anaesthetic can make some patients slightly confused and
unsteady after their treatment. Importantly, it can affect their judgement so they may not be able to think clearly.
It is very common to feel drowsy and less steady on your feet.
It is common for sedation to affect your judgement and memory for up to 24 hours.