Anesthesia
Soon you will
be having an operation. In order to have your operation performed
you will be given
an anesthetic. Your anesthesiologist will talk with you about the type
of anesthesia you will receive.
This page has been
designed by the health care professionals of Marquette General Hospital
to help you understand:
- the different types of anesthesia
- what to expect after receiving an anesthetic
- These terms will be used:
Anesthesia: The absence of sensation. Anesthesia enables
an operation to be carried out without discomfort.
Anesthesiologist: A doctor of medicine who specializes in
the field of anesthesia.
Nurse Anesthetist: A registered nurse who has special training
in the field of anesthesia.
Scheduling Your Appointment
It is recommended
that you visit the Anesthesiology Department prior to your scheduled
surgery date. The Anesthesia Office located
in Marquette General Hospital is open from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon,
and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm to see patients. If you are unable to come
in during the hours listed, or must make a special trip to Marquette
for this visit, please call our office first - (906) 225-3595 or
1-800-562-9753, ext. 3595.
Types of Anesthesia
- General: The anesthetic is administered by injection or inhalation.
It blocks the pain centers of the brain and causes a general loss
of consciousness and feeling.
- Regional: An injection which causes loss of pain sensation to
a specific area of the body without putting you to sleep.
Methods of General Anesthesia
- Inhalation: Anesthetic gases are given through a mask, breathed
into the lungs, and then carried into the bloodstream.
- Intravenous (IV): The anesthetic medication is given directly
into the bloodstream.
- *General anesthesia is usually a combination of both inhalation
and intravenous methods.
After General anesthesia
- You will awaken shortly after you arrive in the Recovery Room.
You will have an oxygen mask on. Taking deep breaths will help you
eliminate the anesthetic gases in your body.
- During general anesthesia you will breathe through a soft plastic
tube which is placed in your mouth after you are asleep. Because
of this you may have a slight sore throat after surgery. This will
go away within a few days.
- You may feel sleepy for a few hours after you awaken.
- Methods of Regional anesthesia
- Local: Anesthetic is injected directly into the tissues of the
area to be operated on, causing numbness of the area.
- Nerve Block: This is usually done for leg or arm surgery. The
anesthetic is injected around the main nerves thereby blocking pain
sensation and causing numbness of the limb.
- Spinal: For
hip or leg surgery and some abdominal surgeries such as cesarean
section.
Anesthetic is injected into the fluid around
the spinal cord causing blockage of pain sensations. You will be "numb" from
the waist down.
- *During regional anesthesia you may feel pressure or touch.
You may be given a medication to help you relax, and it may make
you sleepy.
After a regional anesthesia
- The area injected with the anesthetic will remain numb for several
hours after surgery.
- If you have a spinal anesthetic or a nerve block you will be
unable to move that limb until the anesthetic wears off.
- As sensation returns you may feel some discomfort in the area
of the incision. Your doctor probably has ordered medication for
this. Please ask your nurse.
- With a spinal
anesthetic you may also have the sensation of your legs "floating in air," or
of being elevated. This will go away as feeling returns. You will
remain in the Recovery Room with the foot
of the bed elevated until sensation returns to your feet.
In
Summary
The type of anesthesia
you have will be determined by the type of operation you are having,
by your physical condition, and by your
past history. Your anesthesiologist will help you choose, after talking
to you, the type of anesthetic that is best for you. If you have
any questions regarding your anesthetic, ask your anesthesiologist.
Additional
health information is also available through the MGH
Health Information Center
(906)225-4950 or 1-800-562-9753, ext.4950.
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