Dr George Thom – Anaesthetist – Cape Town

Dr George Thom – Anaesthetist – Cape Town

Dr George Thom is a specialist Anaesthetist and leading Sedationist at Sedation Specialists in Cape Town. With over thirty years of clinical experience, he has centred his practice on delivering safe, compassionate sedation and anaesthesia across a variety of outpatient procedures. He graduated MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 1997 and earned his Diploma in Anaesthesia (DA SA) in 1996. Subsequently, he completed a dedicated Sedation Diploma under Prof. Roelofse at Tygerberg Campus in 2011, solidifying his expertise in both conscious sedation and monitored anaesthesia care.

Furthermore, Dr Thom maintains active registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and membership in the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists, ensuring that his techniques and protocols reflect the latest evidence-based practices. He has collaborated with dentists, dermatologists, gynaecologists, gastroenterologists, and plastic surgeons to refine sedation pathways that minimise discomfort and anxiety for both adults and children. Outside the clinic, he volunteers at community health events, providing pre-procedural assessments and educational talks on procedural anxiety management. Meanwhile, he pursues trail running and bird watching, activities that sharpen his focus and bolster his empathetic approach under pressure.

Services

Dr Thom offers a comprehensive suite of anaesthesia and sedation services, each tailored to patient needs and procedural requirements:

• Conscious Sedation for Adults – Intravenous sedation protocols using midazolam and fentanyl, which reduce anxiety and pain during dental procedures, minor surgeries, and endoscopic interventions.

• Paediatric Sedation – Age-appropriate dosing, child-friendly monitoring, and distraction techniques ensure safety and cooperation for children undergoing dental work, imaging, or minor surgical treatments.

• Monitored Anaesthesia Care (MAC) – Deep sedation plans for higher-risk cases that require continuous physiological monitoring, including ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, and non-invasive blood pressure.

• Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) – Target-controlled infusions of propofol and remifentanil that promote rapid recovery without inhalational agents, thereby minimising postoperative nausea.

• Regional Anaesthesia Assistance – Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks (spinal, epidural, peripheral) to complement procedural sedation, providing superior postoperative analgesia and reducing systemic drug requirements.

• Emergency Sedation & Analgesia – Rapid-response sedation in urgent-care settings to facilitate painful interventions and stabilise distressed patients, while maintaining protective airway reflexes.

• EMLA & Topical Anaesthesia – Coordinated application of topical agents prior to intravenous access, which enhances comfort during needle insertion and reduces procedural distress.

• Pre- and Post-Sedation Assessment – Thorough medical history review, risk stratification, and personalised sedation plans, followed by post-procedural monitoring and detailed discharge instructions.

Moreover, each service is delivered in dedicated sedation suites equipped with advanced anaesthesia machines, multimodal monitoring systems, and trained recovery-room staff, thereby ensuring both precision and patient safety.

Additional Information

Sedation Specialists’ Cape Town facility features purpose-built sedation suites and a calming recovery lounge designed to accommodate both adults and children. Consequently, patients and families experience a reassuring environment that eases anxiety before and after procedures.

To streamline care, a secure online patient portal provides access to pre-sedation instructions, downloadable consent forms, and post-sedation care guidelines. Families can complete medical history forms and submit queries in advance, which reduces day-of-procedure delays.

Furthermore, Dr Thom collaborates with a multidisciplinary network of dentists, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, gynaecologists, and gastroenterologists to coordinate sedation for a wide range of interventions. In addition, multilingual staff communicate fluently in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, ensuring clear explanations across diverse communities.

Finally, Sedation Specialists adheres to rigorous infection-control and patient-safety protocols, including enhanced cleaning procedures and social-distancing measures. Therefore, schedule your sedation consultation today to experience expert, compassionate care that prioritises your comfort, safety, and peace of mind.