Anesthesia is the administration of a drug and/or gas to numb part of your body or to create a state of unconsciousness. This is so that you don't feel the pain or discomfort of a medical or surgical procedure or while having a baby. The main types of anesthesia are local, regional, and general. These procedures help to relieve pain and create numbness or a state of unconsciousness during surgery.
Local anesthesia numbs part of your body while you remain conscious. It is routinely used by many doctors in their offices for simple procedures such as sewing up a cut or removing a skin growth.
Regional anesthesia is similar to local in that you remain awake. However, in many cases you may be given a sedative. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area of the body and is usually used for more extensive procedures than local anesthesia.
General anesthesia will relax your muscles and put you in a deep sleep. Anesthesia gases or drugs primarily affect the brain. General anesthesia is usually administered by an anesthesiologist (a doctor who specializes in giving anesthesia) or a nurse anesthetist.
Preparing for anesthesia
Preparation for anesthesia varies depending on what kind of surgery or medical procedure you are having. Follow the directions your doctor gives you. General anesthesia or the use of conscious sedation typically mandates that you have a preoperative evaluation by your primary care physician. It is crucial that you inform your physician of ALL your allergies.
Types of anesthesia
Local anesthesia numbs part of your body while you remain conscious. It is routinely used by many doctors in their offices for simple procedures such as sewing up a cut or removing a skin growth.
Regional anesthesia is similar to local in that you remain awake. However, in many cases you may be given a sedative. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area of the body and is usually used for more extensive procedures than local anesthesia.
General anesthesia will relax your muscles and put you in a deep sleep. Anesthesia gases or drugs primarily affect the brain. General anesthesia is usually administered by an anesthesiologist (a doctor who specializes in giving anesthesia) or a nurse anesthetist.
risks associated with anesthesia
Risks from local and regional anesthesia include:
- You may feel some minor discomfort because the anesthetic may not numb the area enough.
- You may feel pressure, but you shouldn't feel pain. Let your doctor know if you are still feeling pain after the medication has been administered.
- Local infection
- Bleeding or bruising
- You may have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, causing fever, hives, itching or nausea and vomiting.
- You may have long-term damage to the nerves.
- You may have trouble breathing because the anesthetic can affect the respiratory system.
- Rarely, you may have a severe reaction by having seizures, cardiac arrest, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
Risks from general anesthesia include:
- After the anesthesia, you may have nausea and vomiting, sore throat, and muscle pain.
- You may have low blood pressure.
- You may have stress on the heart.
- You may have an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
- In rare cases, you may have a heart attack, stroke, or brain damage, which could result in death.
The probability of serious side effects is low, although risk does increase with age and the number of medical problems a person has. Because general anesthesia affects all areas of your body, such as the heart and lungs, side effects are more common than with local or regional anesthetics. Local and regional anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia. However, most side effects from general anesthesia do not last long and are easily relieved by the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist present throughout the operation.
Discuss with your doctor any concerns you may have.
If you feel anything unusual while you are recovering from the procedure, tell the doctor or a nurse immediately.
Call the doctor during office hours if:
- You have questions about the procedure or its result.
- You want to make another appointment.