You may be visiting this site in order to find out more information about general anaesthesia or intensive care. You may be a patient yourself or have a friend or relative who is requiring an operation or admission to intensive care.

To help you find the information that you are looking for we have answered the following questions and provided links to further information:

I want to find out more about General Anaesthesia?

General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness during which you feel nothing and may be described as ‘anaesthetised’. This is essential for some operations and may be used as an alternative to regional anaesthesia for others¹

Anaesthetic drugs injected into a vein, or anaesthetic gases breathed into the lungs, are carried to the brain by the blood. They stop the brain recognising messages coming from the nerves in the body¹

Anaesthetic unconsciousness is different from unconsciousness due to disease or injury and is different from sleep. As the anaesthetic drugs wear off, your consciousness starts to return¹

The Royal College of Anaesthetists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the UK, and ensures the quality of patient care through the maintenance of standards in anaesthesia, critical care and pain management.

It provides an excellent information resource for patients and relatives on all aspects of anaesthesia. Click here.

I want to find out more about Intensive Care Units?

Intensive care units (ICU), also called critical care or intensive therapy departments, are sections within a hospital that look after patients whose conditions are life-threatening and need constant, close monitoring and support from equipment and medication to keep normal body functions going²

The Intensive Care Society is the representative body in the UK for intensive care professionals and patients.

It provides an excellent information resource for patients and relatives on all aspects of intensive care. Click here.

I want to find out more about GSK medicines?

For more information on GSK medicines please visit www.public.gsk.co.uk.

The purpose of this web site is to provide information on GSK medicines to members of the public.

References

1.	The Royal College of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia explained - Information for patients, relatives and friends. 2008. Available from: http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/docs/PI_ae.doc Date accessed: January 2010.
2.	The Intensive Care Society. What is Intensive Care?. Available from: http://www.ics.ac.uk/patients___relatives/what_is_intensive_care_ Date accessed: January 2010.