Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 3/13/2008

Question
Following keyhole surgery for removal of gall bladder 8 years ago i woke up with a high squeaky voice - it soon passed but I then had severe nausea and vomiting for the next 24 hrs. Could the two things be connected? On two previous GAs i did not have any problems at all. I am due to have surgery for cervical spinal fusion in 3 weeks and am anxious to avoid any repeat of the nausea.

Answer
Hi Sandie
The squeaky voice is most likely to have been due to trauma caused to your vocal cords by the 'breathing tube' (endotracheal tube) that was inserted into your voicebox once you were asleep. This is used to allow the anaesthetist to protect your lungs during the operation and have an airway through which your breathing can be done for you by a machine (ventilator). These are commonly used during the operation you had last time and the operation you are due to have this time. It is worth mentioning the problem you experienced the last time with your voice.
The nausea and vomiting are unrelated to the squeaky voice. However again we know that a fairly large percentage of people will suffer from nausea and vomiting following anaesthesia. We know it tends to be worse in females, non smokers, those who suffer from travel sickness and those who are having certain operations (this includes laparoscopic cholecystectomy)
Again it is worth mentioning this problem to your anaesthetist as there is a lot we can do to try and stop it happening - no 100% cures but we can help 80-90% of people.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson