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[back to "A" main page] A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
OPTIONS IN ANESTHESIA: Anesthesia is used to block pain signals from traveling through your nervous system. The anesthesia you receive depends on your condition and the procedure (operation) involved. When faced with the possibility of surgery, the odds are fairly high that you are going to need some type of anesthesia. There are many different types of anesthesia and depending on the type of surgery you need this will determine the type of anesthesia you will need. Some surgical procedures require only an injection of local anesthesia into the incision area. Still there are other procedures that simply cannot be performed unless you are completely anesthetized which means you are completely unconscious and unaware of pain. This is something your anesthesiologist (M.D.) will go over with you and determine the best anesthesia in your case. THE ANESTHSIOLOGIST: An anesthesiologist is a specialized M.D. This is a doctor who completed college, medical school, an internship and a three-year anesthesiology residency. An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in anesthetic administration, pain relief, and the care of patients before, during, and after surgery. The anesthesiologist monitors vital organ functions including heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood-oxygen saturation during surgery. TYPES OF ANESTHESIA INCLUDE: SEDATION ANESTHESIA: Medications can be administered through a vein to relieve pain and anxiety that make you feel calm. These medications may also interfere with memory formation, so you may not remember events that occur while you are sedated, even though you remain awake throughout the procedure. Sedation anesthesia may be given along with other forms of anesthesia. LOCAL ANESTHESIA: This form is used to numb a small part of your body, blocking pain signals from being sent through your body, but allowing you to remain fully alert. Typically, local anesthesia is used for minor procedures, such as dental work, skin biopsies or stitching a cut. Local anesthetics are generally short-lived and come in different forms, including sprays, ointments and injections. REGIONAL ANESTHESIA: This form of anesthesia is used to block sensation in a particular region of your body. The anesthetic is injected around a single nerve or a larger network of nerves that branches out and serves that area, keeping pain signals from reaching your brain. Intravenous (IV) sedation also may be used to relax you and make you feel fairly sleepy, though you remain conscious. SPINAL, EPIDURAL AND CAUDAL ANESTHESIA: Spinal, epidural and caudal anesthesia involve injecting an anesthetic into or near the spinal fluid, effectively numbing nerves that serve the lower half of your body. They're often used for pelvic operations and lower extremity surgeries. GENERAL ANESTHESIA: This form of anesthesia is appropriate for more extensive surgeries for which the other types of anesthesia aren't feasible. The drugs used in general anesthesia are given intravenously or are inhaled. They act as hypnotics, painkillers and muscle relaxants, and they block your memory of the surgery. Because you're unconscious, your brain doesn't perceive any pain signals. Your age, health and the surgery you're having determine the types of drugs you receive.
TALK TO YOUR ANESTHESIOLOGIST:
RECOVERY FROM ANESTHESIA: After any procedure requiring general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist essentially reverses the effects of the anesthesia. As you begin to regain consciousness, you will be carefully monitored by your anesthesiologist (Medical Doctor) and nurse anesthetists (CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) who are skilled in postoperative management. If you are experiencing pain at this point in your recovery, tell your anesthesia team and ask for something to relieve your pain. Bearing excessive pain can be dangerous, therefore it is important to tell your doctor. Regional anesthesia has been increasingly used to control postoperative pain, which, in turn, reduces your need for other pain medications that might leave you feeling groggy or nauseated. Local anesthetics also can help after surgery. They are especially useful in reducing the pain surrounding an incision. Experience with anesthesia is different for everyone. Advances in this area of medicine make it safer than in the past and now anesthesia can be tailored to suit your specific needs.
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