PATIENT INFORMATION
What is a pre-anaesthesia assessment?
A pre-anaesthesia assessment is the medical review that takes place before you receive anaesthesia or sedation for an operation or procedure. Its purpose is to understand your health, identify anything that could affect anaesthesia or recovery, and make a safe plan for your care.
Why it matters
Anaesthesia affects breathing, blood pressure, heart rhythm and the reflexes that protect your airway. Knowing about your health in advance lets the team prepare the right medicines, equipment and monitoring, rather than discovering important information on the day.
What the assessment may cover
- Your medical history, previous operations and previous anaesthetics
- Your medicines, supplements and allergies
- Heart and lung symptoms and how active you are day to day
- Your airway: mouth opening, teeth, jaw and neck movement
- Test results, where they are relevant
What it can lead to
Depending on your health and the planned procedure, the outcome may be:
- No further tests at all
- Instructions about fasting and medicines
- A request for a test or specialist opinion
- Treatment of a health problem before surgery
- A discussion about the type of anaesthesia, the level of care after surgery, or the timing of the operation
The assessment may take place in a clinic, by phone or video, or on the day of admission, depending on how your hospital organises care.
What this page cannot tell you
Whether you personally need further tests, or whether your operation should go ahead. Your anaesthesia team will decide that after assessing you.