Dr John MacKenzie MA MB BChir MRCP FRCA

Speciality

Regional Anaesthesia, especially for upper limb work and Maxillo-facial surgery

Training

Cambridge and St Thomas' Hospital, London

Current NHS and/or University Post

Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Berkshire & Battle NHS Trust, Reading, Berkshire since 1991

Background

Dr John Mackenzie is a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and took up the position of Consultant Anaesthetist at the Reading Hospitals 15 years ago. For much of that time, he has provided anaesthesia for patients of Mr M Patel in cases of jaw or dental surgery. He has also regularly worked with Mr C Pailthorpe to develop safe and comfortable methods of anaesthesia for surgery to the hand, wrist or elbow.

In particular, for surgery to the hand, wrist or elbow, Dr Mackenzie is able to provide an alternative to general anaesthesia in which only the arm itself is numbed. This is called regional anaesthesia, and can be combined with calming sedation or general anaesthesia. Avoidance of general anaesthesia can be advantageous for certain patients, and regional anaesthesia is well suited to operations on the hand, wrist, arm or elbow. Calming sedation can also be provided when local anaesthesia is indicated or chosen in place of general anaesthesia in cases of dental or jaw surgery.

Dr Mackenzie is also a member of the Royal College of Physicians and worked in the intensive care unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for 10 years. He also has specialist experience in pain management, which is valuable in cases of chronic pain as well as dealing with pain after surgery. To minimise pain and to reduce the need for large doses of morphine, he will often advocate the use of nerve block with local anaesthetic. He pays particular attention to the control of sickness after operation, and makes use of several methods to reduce the chances of this happening.

Dr Mackenzie is always pleased to be contacted in advance of the day of surgery should you have any unanswered questions about your anaesthetic.