Show
During surgery, you will be given some form of anesthesia, which are medicines given to relieve pain and sensation during surgery. Before surgery, you will meet with the physician anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. The anesthesiologist will review your medical condition and history to plan the appropriate anesthetic for surgery. There are various forms of anesthesia. The type of anesthesia you get will depend on the type of surgery and your medical condition. Sedatives (to make you sleepy) and analgesics (to ease the pain) may also be used as part of the anesthesia process. The different types of anesthesia include the following: Local AnesthesiaLocal anesthesia is an anesthetic agent given to temporarily stop the sense of pain in a particular area of the body. You remain conscious during a local anesthetic. For minor surgery, a local anesthetic can be given via injection to the site, or allowed to absorb into the skin. However, when a large area needs to be numbed, or if a local anesthetic injection will not penetrate deep enough, doctors may use other types of anesthesia. Regional AnesthesiaRegional anesthesia is used to numb only the portion of the body that will undergo the surgery. Usually an injection of local anesthetic is given in the area of nerves that provide feeling to that part of the body. There are several forms of regional anesthetics:
General AnesthesiaGeneral anesthesia is an anesthetic used to induce unconsciousness during surgery. The medicine is either inhaled through a breathing mask or tube, or given through an intravenous (IV) line. A breathing tube may be inserted into the windpipe to maintain proper breathing during surgery. Once the surgery is complete, the anesthesiologist ceases the anesthetic and you are taken to the recovery room for further monitoring. About Your AnesthesiologistAnesthesiologists are the doctors trained to administer and manage anesthesia given during a surgical procedure. They are also responsible for managing and treating changes in your critical life functions--breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure--as they are affected by the surgery being performed. Further, they diagnose and treat any medical problems that might arise during and immediately after surgery. Before surgery, the anesthesiologist will evaluate your medical condition and formulate an anesthetic plan that takes your physical condition into account. It is vital that the anesthesiologist knows as much about your medical history, lifestyle, and medicines, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements, as possible. Some particularly important information he or she needs to know includes the following:
Meeting the Anesthesiologist Before Your SurgeryBecause anesthesia and surgery affect every system in the body, the anesthesiologist will conduct a preoperative interview. Sometimes this is done in person; in other cases, the anesthesiologist will interview you over the phone. During this interview, the anesthesiologist will review your medical history, as well as discuss the information mentioned above. He or she will also inform you about what to expect during your surgery and discuss anesthetic choices with you. This is also the time to discuss which medicines should be stopped, and which can continue before surgery, as well as when to stop eating before the surgery. If you have not personally met during the preoperative interview, the anesthesiologist will meet with you immediately before your surgery to review your entire medical history as well as results of any medical tests previously conducted. By this time, he or she will have a clear understanding of your anesthetic needs. How are pre-existing medical conditions handled during surgery?If you have a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma, heart problems, or arthritis, your anesthesiologist will have been alerted to this and will be well-prepared to treat these conditions during your surgery, as well as immediately afterward. Anesthesiologists are trained to handle sudden medical problems related to the surgery, as well as any chronic conditions that may need attention during the procedure. How is my condition monitored during surgery?Monitoring is one of the most important roles the anesthesiologist handles during surgery. Second-by-second observation of even the slightest changes in a wide range of body functions gives the anesthesiologist a tremendous amount of information about your well-being. In addition to directing your anesthesia, the anesthesiologist will manage vital functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm, body temperature, and breathing. He or she will also be responsible for fluid and blood replacement, when needed. Sophisticated technology is used to monitor every organ system and its function during surgery. |