The Implant and Oral Surgery Centre offers a patient-friendly approach to anaesthesia for its surgery patients. Intravenous anaesthesia is an anaesthetic technique very well suited to small to medium sized operations and has become possible since the advent of a new generation of intravenous medications with unique properties. These remarkable medications, when administered by a qualified anaesthetist in a properly monitored setting, provide safe and comfortable sleep without many of the unpleasant side effects of a full, traditional general anaesthetic. Unlike most general anaesthetics, there is minimal decrease of the breathing rate and blood pressure so patients breathe calmly and slowly on their own. No breathing tubes or ventilators are required. The patients sleep soundly during the entire operation, feeling no pain and experiencing no anxiety. They wake quickly and comfortably with no memory of their procedure. The technique is used commonly in the United States for most outpatient cosmetic surgery procedures with an extremely high degree of patient safety and patient acceptance.
Some examples of procedures that may be performed under intravenous sedation are:
We have found that most patients prefer this type of anaesthetic to traditional general anaesthetics. They feel comfortable, wake within minutes and do so with less chance of nausea. They are able to be discharged from the clinic much earlier and experience none of the 'hang-over' effect of a full general anaesthetic. Intravenous sedation is safe, effective and extremely well tolerated.
Before your operation:
After your operation:
Alternatively, for some patients, they and the surgeon may decide that a full general anaesthetic is still the best choice. Discuss your options for anaesthesia during your consultation with your surgeon.
Dr Tay is fully accredited and has operating privileges at major hospitals in Singapore including Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Raffles Hospital, Thomson Medical Centre, Mount Alvernia Hospital and Eastshore Hospital.