General Overview of Anesthesia

Our Department wants each patient to have an excellent anesthetic experience. Understanding more about anesthesia enables a patient to better prepare for anesthesia and can provide for more realistic expectations. There is lots of valuable information on this web site that may be used to further one’s understanding about anesthesia. Please read further for a brief overview.

Utilizing the latest technology and a highly skilled team of anesthesia providers (see Clinicians in the Department links) each patient is provided with the best anesthetic care possible. When a patient has surgery or other procedure requiring anesthesia, there will be three basic ways in which the anesthesia will be provided: local anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and general anesthesia. Each patient will have a personal anesthesia provider who will explain the options for anesthesia and help the patient make the best decision for their anesthetic care. It is the responsibility of the anesthesia provider to provide the anesthesia in the safest, most comfortable way. There will be an anesthesia provider will each patient for the entire surgery or procedure.

Sometimes the type of surgery determines the required anesthesia. Other times there are choices. Each patient will have an opportunity to ask questions about anesthesia and participate in their anesthetic management decisions.

Local anesthesia is the administration of anesthetic medication in a small area that will be involved in the surgery or procedure. In essence, only the surgical area will be anesthetized. The medication is usually given by the surgeon. The responsibility of the anesthesia provider is to give the patient supportive medication that will help with relaxation and sedation. Furthermore, the anesthesia provider will be monitoring the patient’s vital signs and other important data in order to maintain safety and comfort.

Regional anesthesia is the administration of anesthetic medication to a larger part of the body, such as an arm, leg or lower half of the body. Examples of this type of anesthesia include spinal and epidural anesthesia or specific nerve group anesthesia such as the group of nerves going to the arm (the brachial plexus). There is much to learn about how these techniques work and for what types of surgeries they are most appropriate. There is more information located in the Department links under Anesthesia FAQs and Understanding Anesthesia. Because this anesthesia type does not cause sedation or relaxation, supportive medication will be given as appropriate to provide sedation and relaxation that will enhance the anesthetic experience.

General anesthesia is when the entire body is unconscious for the surgery or procedure. It most commonly begins with an injection into an intravenous line (IV) and is maintained with anesthetic gasses that are delivered through the lungs. It requires the anesthesia provider to manage and protect a patient’s airway, which is usually accomplished by inserting a tube into the lungs or other device into the oral cavity while the patient is unconscious. Sophisticated equipment and monitoring devices are used to monitor the level of anesthesia and the patients vital signs in order that the safest and most comfortable anesthetic is delivered. Patients are given general anesthesia once they enter the operating room. Likewise, they are awakened from general anesthesia in the operating room. Once stabilized from coming out of anesthesia, the patient is moved to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where further monitoring is performed. While a patient is under anesthesia, the anesthesia provider gives medications useful to maximize safety and comfort that will promote a smooth emergence and recovery from anesthesia. These medications are generally given to limit the likelihood of nausea, vomiting, and pain.

If you have further questions about this information, please investigate the other areas of the website or contact the department with the contact information provided on the home page. Someone from he department will be happy to assist you.

Disclaimer
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