In general, you should be as well as possible before undergoing any anaesthetic or surgery. Sometimes, of course, surgery is necessary and there may even be some degree of urgency to have the operation. Your surgeon, perhaps together with your anaesthetist, can weigh up your need for the operation and how urgent it is against any illness or condition you have. If you are scheduled for elective surgery, it is usual to delay the operation if you become unwell. In most cases, an optimal time will be suggested.

The final decision as to whether or not to delay your operation rests with your anaesthetist and your surgeon. It is best to contact them if you become unwell in the days leading up to your appointment. You may also wish to contact your family doctor for advice and possible treatment.

If you have a cold or the flu, it is likely that your anaesthetic and operation will be postponed. If you have a sore throat with no other symptoms, then your anaesthetist may consider that you can proceed, although your throat may be very sore afterwards. If the sore throat is an early sign of the development of a cold or the flu (and it isn’t always), then the resulting illness may be hastened and you may feel extremely unwell after the operation. Again, the decision to proceed rests with your anaesthetist and your surgeon, although if you decide not to proceed your wishes will be respected.

There is an increased probability of respiratory complications when anaesthesia is administered to a patient with an established cold or influenza. Your anaesthetist, however, is aware of the potential for complications and of the means of managing them safely. Diarrhoea is not a contraindication to anaesthesia or surgery unless it is part of a more generalised illness. One of the benefits of the developments in anaesthetic drugs and techniques is that anaesthesia is now relatively safe, even in patients who are severely ill.