Medlcal Colleges Cf norLhern hlllpplnes

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AtFSTHFSlA
WhaL ls anesLhesla?
AnesLhesla conLrols paln durlng surgery or oLher medlcal procedures lL lncludes uslng medlclnes and
someLlmes close monlLorlng Lo keep you comforLable lL can also help conLrol breaLhlng blood
pressure blood flow and hearL raLe and rhyLhm when needed
An anaesLheslologlsLs or a nurse anaesLheLlsL Lakes charge of your comforL and safeLy durlng surgery
1hls Loplc focuses on anesLhesla care LhaL you geL from Lhese speclallsLs

AtFSTHFSlA - PRFPARlt6 F0R AtFSTHFSlA
8elng wellprepared for anesLhesla may help you remaln calm and relaxed lf you Lake Lhe Llme Lo learn
abouL your procedure and Lhe anesLhesla you wlll be beLLer able Lo undersLand Lhe lnformaLlon and
lnsLrucLlons you are glven knowlng whaL Lo expecL can help decrease Lenslon and anxleLy
usually your surgeons offlce cllnlc or hosplLal wlll conLacL you ln advance Lo glve you lnformaLlon
abouL whaL Lo do Lhe evenlng before and Lhe day of Lhe procedure ?our surgeon wlll also provlde
lnformaLlon abouL whaL wlll happen when you arrlve aL Lhe cllnlc or hosplLal durlng Lhe procedure and
afLerward
lood and drlnk resLrlcLlons
As parL of geLLlng ready for your procedure you are noL allowed Lo eaL or drlnk anyLhlng for a cerLaln
Llme perlod before anesLhesla 1he followlng Llmes are averages ln some cases such as ln Lhose people
wlLh gasLroesophageal reflux dlsease (CL8u) Lhe resLrlcLlons musL be sLarLed earller for safeLy
uo noL eaL for 6 hours before anesLhesla
?ou may drlnk clear llqulds only (waLer fllLered apple [ulce black coffee or Lea and clear carbonaLed
beverages such as Sevenup) up Lo 2 hours before your surgery ?ou should have noLhlng else Lo eaL or
drlnk for aL leasL 6 hours before anesLhesla
lood and flulds are resLrlcLed Lo reduce Lhe rlsk of asplraLlon by reduclng Lhe conLenLs of your sLomach
AsplraLlon occurs when an ob[ecL or llquld ls lnhaled lnLo Lhe resplraLory LracL when a person
regurglLaLes conLenLs lnLo Lhe LhroaL AsplraLlon durlng anesLhesla ls very uncommon buL lL can cause
severe compllcaLlons
Medlclne resLrlcLlons
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lf you Lake any medlclnes on a regular basls such as dlabeLes medlclnes or hearL medlclnes ask your
surgeon wheLher you should Lake your medlclnes on Lhe day before or Lhe day of your procedure Some
medlclnes may lnLeracL wlLh Lhe anesLheLlcs and oLher medlclnes used for anesLhesla
lnformed consenL
8efore any nonemergency surgery or procedure mosL surgery cenLers and hosplLals have surgery
consenL for you Lo slgn 1hls ls called an lnformed consenL because your surgeon wlll explaln why your
surgery ls needed whaL lL wlll lnvolve lLs rlsks and expecLed ouLcome and how long lL wlll Lake you Lo
recover AfLer dlscusslng Lhls lnformaLlon you may be asked Lo slgn Lhe lnformed consenL lL needs Lo be
slgned before you recelve any medlclnes LhaL could affecL your sLaLe of mlnd
lf Lhe person Lo have anesLhesla ls a chlld or ls menLally lncompeLenL Lo slgn a consenL form Lhe
consenL many people experlence anxleLy before medlcal procedures especlally surgery MenLal
relaxaLlon Lechnlques can help reduce anxleLy lf you wlll be awake durlng Lhe procedure you also can
use Lhese Lechnlques Lo relax whlle lL ls belng done 1hey can also be used Lo help reduce paln and
anxleLy afLer your procedure

Some menLal relaxaLlon Lechnlques LhaL may be useful lnclude
O CpLlmlsLlc selfreclLaLlon ln whlch you focus on and reclLe LhoughLs LhaL are opLlmlsLlc and poslLlve
O Culded lmagery (vlsuallzaLlon) a meLhod of uslng your lmaglnaLlon Lo help you relax and release Lenslon
by concenLraLlng on a pleasanL experlence or resLful scene
O MedlLaLlon Lo help focus your aLLenLlon on feellng calm and relaxed ?ou may wanL Lo focus on a slngle
lmage a sound or your own breaLhlng
O ulsLracLlon Lechnlques such as llsLenlng Lo muslc Lhrough headphones
Med|c|ne g|ven before anesthes|a
?ou may be glven a medlclne before anesLhesla Medlclnes may be glven by mouLh or by ln[ecLlon
lmmedlaLely before anesLhesla Cr someLlmes Lhe docLor wlll apply medlclne Lo parL of your body such
as your nose or mouLh
Medlclne ls glven before anesLhesla for many reasons lncludlng
O 8elleve anxleLy 1he medlclnes mosL commonly glven Lo relleve anxleLy are benzodlazeplnes such
as dlazepam lorazepam and mldazolam
O 8elleve or prevenL paln Medlclnes Lo relleve paln (analgeslcs) may be glven Lo people who are ln paln
before Lhe procedure beglns as well as Lo reduce paln durlng Lhe procedure
O 8educe secreLlons CerLaln medlclnes (anLlchollnerglc agenLs) may be used Lo reduce secreLlons ln Lhe
mouLh and resplraLory LracL
O 8educe Lhe volume and acldlLy of flulds ln Lhe sLomach Lo help reduce Lhe rlsk of asplraLlon AsplraLlon
occurs when an ob[ecL or llquld ls lnhaled lnLo Lhe resplraLory LracL ln some cases medlclnes are glven
Lo reduce or neuLrallze sLomach acldlLy ln order Lo lower Lhe rlsk of ln[ury lf sLomach [ulces are
regurglLaLed lnLo Lhe LhroaL or lnhaled lnLo Lhe alrway
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O 8educe nausea and vomlLlng eople who are aL rlsk for nausea and vomlLlng elLher durlng Lhe
procedure or durlng recovery may recelve medlclnes called anLlemeLlcs
O ConLrol body funcLlons Medlclnes may be glven LhaL help conLrol Lhe body's auLomaLlc Lo Lhe paln and
sLress of surgery CLher medlclnes may be glven Lo help malnLaln hearLbeaL or blood pressure aL a sLable
and regular level
ther preparat|on
lor many procedures medlclnes are glven Lhrough a veln (lnLravenously lv) An lv ls usually lnserLed
lnLo a veln ln Lhe hand or lower arm When Lhe lv ls ln place medlclnes or flulds can be glven qulckly
lnLo your bloodsLream Chlldren and some adulLs may flnd lnserLlon of Lhe lv palnful and sLressful ln
Lhese cases Lhe lv may be lnserLed afLer Lhey have been sedaLed or afLer an lnhaled anesLheLlc has
been glven Lhrough a mask
May be slgned by a responslble famlly member or guardlan AnesLhesla lnvolves Lhe use of medlclnes Lo
block paln sensaLlons (analgesla) durlng surgery and oLher medlcal procedures AnesLhesla also reduces
many of your bodys normal sLress reacLlons Lo surgery
?our medlcal hlsLory lncludlng oLher surgerles you have had and any condlLlons you have (such as
dlabeLes) ?ou wlll also be asked wheLher you have had any allerglc reacLlons Lo any anesLheLlcs or
medlclnes or wheLher any famlly members have had reacLlons Lo anesLheLlcs
1he resulLs of your physlcal exam A physlcal exam wlll be done Lo evaluaLe your currenL healLh and
ldenLlfy any poLenLlal rlsks or compllcaLlons LhaL may affecL your anesLhesla care
1esLs such as blood LesLs or an elecLrocardlogram (LkC LCC) lf needed
1he Lype of surgery LhaL you are havlng
?ou need Lo be able Lo lle sLlll and remaln calm durlng surgery done wlLh local or reglonal anesLhesla
?oung chlldren usually cannoL sLay sLlll durlng surgery and need general anesLhesla
AdulLs who are exLremely anxlous ln paln or have muscle dlsorders also may have dlfflculLy remalnlng
relaxed and cooperaLlve
Some surglcal procedures requlre speclflc poslLlons LhaL may be uncomforLable for long perlods lf you
are awake
Some procedures requlre Lhe use of medlclnes LhaL cause muscle relaxaLlon and affecL your ablllLy Lo
breaLhe on your own ln such cases your breaLhlng can besL be supporLed lf general anesLhesla ls used
8ased on your medlcal condlLlon your anesLhesla speclallsL may prefer one Lype of anesLhesla over
anoLher for your surgery When Lhe rlsks and beneflLs of dlfferenL anesLhesla opLlons are equal your
anesLhesla speclallsL may leL you choose Lhe Lype of anesLhesla

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AtFSTHFSlA HFTH00S
1here are several ways LhaL anesLhesla can be glven

Local anesLhesla lnvolves ln[ecLlon of a local anesLheLlc (numblng agenL) dlrecLly lnLo Lhe surglcal area Lo
block paln sensaLlons lL ls used only for mlnor procedures on a llmlLed parL of Lhe body ?ou may
remaln awake Lhough you wlll llkely recelve medlclne Lo help you relax or sleep durlng Lhe surgery
eg|ona| anesthes|a lnvolves ln[ecLlon of a local anesLheLlc (numblng agenL) around ma[or nerves or Lhe
splnal cord Lo block paln from a larger buL sLlll llmlLed parL of Lhe body ?ou wlll llkely recelve medlclne
Lo help you relax or sleep durlng surgery Ma[or Lypes of reglonal anesLhesla lnclude
er|phera| nerve b|ocks A local anesLheLlc ls ln[ecLed near a speclflc nerve or group of nerves Lo block
paln from Lhe area of Lhe body supplled by Lhe nerve nerve blocks are mosL commonly used for
procedures on Lhe hands arms feeL legs or face
Lp|dura| and sp|na| anesthes|a A local anesLheLlc ls ln[ecLed near Lhe splnal cord and nerves LhaL
connecL Lo Lhe splnal cord Lo block paln from an enLlre reglon of Lhe body such as Lhe belly hlps or
legs
Genera| anesthes|a ls glven lnLo a veln (lnLravenously) or ls lnhaled lL affecLs Lhe braln as well as Lhe
enLlre body ?ou are compleLely unaware and do noL feel paln durlng Lhe surgery Also general
anesLhesla ofLen causes forgeLfulness (amnesla) rlghL afLer surgery (posLoperaLlve perlod) lor some
mlnor procedures a quallfled healLh professlonal who ls noL an anesLhesla speclallsL may glve some
llmlLed Lypes of anesLhesla such as procedural sedaLlon rocedural sedaLlon comblnes Lhe use of local
anesLhesla wlLh small doses of sedaLlve or analgeslc agenLs (palnklllers) Lo relax you

Med|c|nes used for anesthes|a
A wlde varleLy of medlclnes are used Lo provlde anesLhesla 1helr effecLs can be complex And Lhey can
lnLeracL wlLh oLher medlclnes Lo cause dlfferenL effecLs Lhan when Lhey are used alone Anyone
recelvlng anesLheslaeven procedural sedaLlonmusL be monlLored conLlnuously Lo proLecL and malnLaln
vlLal body funcLlons 1he complex Lask of managlng Lhe dellvery of anesLhesla medlclnes as well as
monlLorlng your vlLal funcLlons ls done by anesLhesla speclallsLs
Medlclnes used for anesLhesla help you relax help relleve paln lnduce sleeplness or forgeLfulness or
make you unconsclous AnesLhesla medlclnes lnclude
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Local anesLheLlcs such as buplvacalne or lldocalne LhaL are ln[ecLed dlrecLly lnLo Lhe body area lnvolved
ln Lhe surgery
lnLravenous (lv) anesLheLlcs such as fenLanyl propofol or sodlum LhlopenLal LhaL are glven Lhrough a
veln
lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs such as lsoflurane and nlLrous oxlde LhaL you breaLhe Lhrough a mask
CLher medlclnes LhaL are ofLen used durlng anesLhesla lnclude
Muscle relaxanLs whlch block Lransmlsslon of nerve lmpulses Lo Lhe muscles 1hey are used durlng
anesLhesla Lo Lemporarlly relax muscle Lone as needed
8eversal agenLs whlch are glven Lo counLeracL or reverse Lhe effecLs of oLher medlclnes such as muscle
relaxanLs or sedaLlves glven durlng anesLhesla 8eversal agenLs may be used Lo reduce Lhe Llme lL Lakes
Lo recover from anesLhesla
AtFSTHFSlA - RlSKS At0 C0HPllCATl0tS
AlLhough all Lypes of anesLhesla lnvolve some rlsk ma[or slde effecLs and compllcaLlons from anesLhesla
are uncommon ?our speclflc rlsks depend on your healLh Lhe Lype of anesLhesla used and your
response Lo anesLhesla
ersonal rlsk facLors
?our age may be a rlsk facLor ln general Lhe rlsks assoclaLed wlLh anesLhesla and surgery lncrease ln
older people CerLaln medlcal condlLlons such as hearL clrculaLlon or nervous sysLem problems
lncrease your rlsk of compllcaLlons from anesLhesla Some medlclnes can ralse your rlsk of problems Loo
Make a llsL of all Lhe prescrlpLlon and overLhecounLer medlclnes you Lake And share your llsL wlLh
your docLors lf you smoke drlnk alcohol or use lllegal drugs you may be more llkely Lo have problems
from anesLhesla lLs lmporLanL LhaL you are honesL when you Lalk wlLh your surgeon and anesLhesla
speclallsL
omp||cat|ons from |oca| anesthes|a
When used properly local anesLheLlcs are safe and have few ma[or slde effecLs 8uL ln hlgh doses local
anesLheLlcs can have Loxlc effecLs caused by belng absorbed Lhrough Lhe bloodsLream lnLo Lhe resL of
Lhe body (sysLemlc LoxlclLy) 1hls may slgnlflcanLly affecL your breaLhlng hearLbeaL blood pressure and
oLher body funcLlons 8ecause of Lhese poLenLlal Loxlc effecLs equlpmenL for emergency care musL be
lmmedlaLely avallable when local anesLheLlcs are used


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omp||cat|ons from reg|ona| anesthes|a
lor reglonal anesLhesla an anesLheLlc ls ln[ecLed close Lo a nerve a bundle of nerves or Lhe splnal cord
ln rare cases nerve damage can cause perslsLenL numbness weakness or paln
8eglonal anesLhesla (reglonal nerve blocks epldural and splnal anesLhesla) also carrles Lhe rlsk of
sysLemlc LoxlclLy lf Lhe anesLheLlc ls absorbed Lhrough Lhe bloodsLream lnLo Lhe body CLher
compllcaLlons lnclude hearL or lung problems and lnfecLlon swelllng or brulslng (hemaLoma) aL Lhe
ln[ecLlon slLe
Splnal anesLhesla medlclne ls ln[ecLed lnLo Lhe fluld LhaL surrounds Lhe splnal cord (cerebrosplnal fluld)
1he mosL common compllcaLlon of splnal anesLhesla ls a headache caused by leaklng of Lhls fluld lL ls
more common ln younger people A splnal headache may be LreaLed qulckly wlLh a blood paLch Lo
prevenL furLher compllcaLlons A blood paLch lnvolves ln[ecLlng a small amounL of Lhe persons own
blood lnLo Lhe area where Lhe leak ls mosL llkely occurrlng Lo seal Lhe hole and Lo lncrease pressure ln
Lhe splnal canal and relleve Lhe pull on Lhe membranes surroundlng Lhe canal
omp||cat|ons from genera| anesthes|a
Serlous slde effecLs of general anesLhesla are uncommon ln people who are oLherwlse healLhy 8uL
because general anesLhesla affecLs Lhe whole body lL ls more llkely Lo cause slde effecLs Lhan local or
reglonal anesLhesla lorLunaLely mosL slde effecLs of general anesLhesla are mlnor and can be easlly
managed

Ceneral anesLhesla suppresses Lhe normal LhroaL reflexes LhaL prevenL asplraLlon such as swallowlng
coughlng or gagglng AsplraLlon occurs when an ob[ecL or llquld ls lnhaled lnLo Lhe resplraLory LracL (Lhe
wlndplpe or Lhe lungs) 1o help prevenL asplraLlon an endoLracheal (L1) Lube may be lnserLed durlng
general anesLhesla When an L1 Lube ls ln place Lhe lungs are proLecLed so sLomach conLenLs cannoL
enLer Lhe lungs AsplraLlon durlng anesLhesla and surgery ls very uncommon 1o reduce Lhls rlsk people
are usually lnsLrucLed noL Lo eaL or drlnk anyLhlng for a cerLaln number of hours before anesLhesla so
LhaL Lhe sLomach ls empLy AnesLhesla speclallsLs use many safeLy measures Lo mlnlmlze Lhe rlsk of
asplraLlon
lf you have numbness or reduced sensaLlon longer Lhan expecLed conLacL your anesLhesla speclallsL or
docLorlnserLlon or removal of alrways may cause resplraLory problems such as coughlng gagglng or
muscle spasms ln Lhe volce box or larynx (laryngospasm) or ln Lhe bronchlal Lubes ln Lhe lungs
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(bronchospasm) lnserLlon of alrways also may cause an lncrease ln blood pressure (hyperLenslon) and
hearL raLe (Lachycardla) CLher compllcaLlons may lnclude damage Lo LeeLh and llps swelllng ln Lhe
larynx sore LhroaL and hoarseness caused by ln[ury or lrrlLaLlon of Lhe larynx

CLher serlous rlsks of general anesLhesla lnclude changes ln blood pressure or hearL raLe or rhyLhm
hearL aLLack or sLroke ueaLh or serlous lllness or ln[ury due solely Lo anesLhesla ls rare and ls usually
also relaLed Lo compllcaLlons from Lhe surgery ueaLh occurs ln abouL 1 ouL of 200000 healLhy people
who geL anesLhesla
Some people who are golng Lo have general anesLhesla express concern LhaL Lhey wlll noL be compleLely
unconsclous buL wlll wake up and have some awareness durlng Lhe surglcal procedure 8uL awareness
durlng general anesLhesla ls very rare AnesLhesla speclallsLs devoLe careful aLLenLlon and use many
meLhods Lo prevenL Lhls
8lsks from reacLlons Lo anesLheLlc medlclnes
Some anesLheLlc medlclnes may cause allerglc or oLher abnormal reacLlons ln some people buL Lhese
are rare lf you suspecL you may have such a problem you should Lell boLh your surgeon and anesLhesla
speclallsL well before your surgery 1esLlng wlll Lhen be arranged as needed A rare poLenLlally faLal
condlLlon called mallgnanL hyperLhermla (MP) may be Lrlggered by some anesLheLlcs 1he anesLheLlcs
mosL commonly assoclaLed wlLh mallgnanL hyperLhermla lnclude Lhe poLenL lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs and
Lhe muscle relaxanL succlnylchollne

AtFSTHFSlA - wHAT HAPPFtS 0uRlt6 AtFSTHFSlA
?ou llkely wlll be glven anesLhesla by an anesLhesla speclallsL llnal preparaLlons before your surgery
may lnclude
ALLachlng lnsLrumenLs Lo check your breaLhlng oxygen level hearL raLe blood pressure and oLher body
funcLlons oslLlonlng your body for surgery ?ou wlll be placed ln a poslLlon LhaL allows your surgeon
access Lo Lhe approprlaLe body area and avolds unnecessary pressure on any parLs of your body 1he
Lhree maln phases of anesLhesla are lnducLlon malnLenance and emergence
lnducLlon
1he flrsL phase of anesLhesla when you flrsL begln recelvlng an anesLheLlc ls called lnducLlon
lor local anesLhesla and many Lypes of reglonal anesLhesla lnducLlon occurs when a local anesLheLlc ls
ln[ecLed lnLo Lhe parL of your body LhaL needs Lo be anesLheLlzed Local and reglonal anesLheslas ofLen
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are glven wlLh oLher medlclnes LhaL make you relaxed or sleepy (sedaLlves) or relleve paln (analgeslcs)
1hese medlclnes are ofLen glven Lhrough a veln (lnLravenously lv) before Lhe local anesLheLlc ls glven
lnducLlon of epldural and splnal anesLhesla may requlre Lhe lnserLlon of a needle lnLo Lhe space around
Lhe splnal nerves ln Lhe lower back ?ou wlll recelve an ln[ecLlon of local anesLheLlc Lo reduce dlscomforL
before Lhe needle ls lnserLed
Ceneral anesLhesla ls ofLen lnduced wlLh lv anesLheLlcs buL lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs also may be used
8ecause Lhey enLer dlrecLly lnLo Lhe bloodsLream lnLravenous anesLheLlcs usually cause
unconsclousness ln less Lhan 1 mlnuLe lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs also acL qulckly buL you musL lnhale Lhem
for a shorL Llme before Lhey cause unconsclousness lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs are usually glven Lhrough a
mask LhaL covers your nose and mouLh lnducLlon wlLh lnhalaLlon agenLs ls malnly used for small
chlldren and adulLs who do noL yeL have an lv caLheLer
MalnLenance and monlLorlng
1he second phase of anesLhesla ls called malnLenance uurlng malnLenance Lhe anesLhesla speclallsL
keeps a balance of medlclnes whlle carefully waLchlng your breaLhlng hearL raLe blood pressure and
oLher vlLal funcLlons AnesLhesla ls ad[usLed based on your responses durlng Lhe procedure
WlLh local anesLhesla and reglonal nerve blocks malnLenance frequenLly requlres addlLlonal ln[ecLlons
of sedaLlves Lo prolong Lhe effecLs for more lengLhy procedures
lor general anesLhesla afLer you are unconsclous anesLhesla may be malnLalned wlLh an lnhalaLlon
anesLheLlc alone wlLh lnLravenous anesLheLlcs or mosL commonly wlLh a comblnaLlon of Lhe Lwo very
ofLen lnhalaLlon anesLheLlcs are glven Lhrough an endoLracheal (L1) Lube or a laryngeal mask alrway
(LMA) whlch ls an alrway placed aL Lhe back of your LhroaL buL noL ln your wlndplpe llke an L1 Lube 1he
alrway ls lnserLed afLer you become unconsclous
lL also ls common durlng general anesLhesla for you Lo be glven oLher medlclnes lnLravenously Lo
malnLaln sLable vlLal funcLlons and Lo help prevenL or decrease paln or nausea afLer Lhe procedure
Lmergence
1he flnal phase of anesLhesla ls called emergence When your procedure ls compleLed Lhe anesLhesla
speclallsL wlll sLop glvlng Lhe anesLheLlc As your body clears Lhe anesLheLlc medlclnes from your sysLem
Lhe effecLs begln Lo wear off and your body funcLlons begln Lo reLurn Pow qulckly you emerge from
anesLhesla depends on Lhe anesLheLlcs and oLher medlclnes used and on your response Lo Lhe
medlclnes
WlLh local and reglonal anesLhesla emergence occurs as Lhe effecL of Lhe ln[ecLed anesLheLlc wears off
and sensaLlon reLurns Pow long lL Lakes for sensaLlon Lo reLurn depends on Lhe Lype of anesLheLlc used
how much you were glven and Lhe area of your body LhaL was affecLed Local anesLhesla and some
Medlcal Colleges Cf norLhern hlllpplnes


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reglonal nerve blocks may wear off wlLhln 1 Lo 2 hours Lmergence from epldural or splnal blocks may
Lake longer
Lmergence from general anesLhesla beglns when Lhe lnLravenous or lnhalaLlon anesLheLlc ls sLopped lL
may Lake a shorL Llme before your body clears Lhe anesLheLlc from your sysLem ?ou wlll be closely
waLched durlng emergence Lo make sure LhaL you are breaLhlng well on your own your hearLbeaL
blood pressure and oLher vlLal funcLlons sLay aL normal levels and your muscle conLrol has reLurned lf
an endoLracheal Lube or laryngeal mask alrway was used lL wlll be removed as soon as you are
breaLhlng on your own
ln some cases Lo help speed emergence reversal agenLs are used Lo counLeracL or reverse Lhe effecLs
of cerLaln anesLheLlcs 1hese agenLs may help reduce Lhe Llme lL Lakes for you Lo recover from
anesLhesla

Lmergence does noL mean you wlll have compleLely recovered from all Lhe effecLs of anesLhesla Some
effecLs may perslsL for many hours afLer anesLhesla has ended lor example you may have some
numbness or reduced sensaLlon ln Lhe parL of your body LhaL was anesLheLlzed unLll Lhe anesLheLlc
wears off compleLely Lven lf you feel alerL and normal your [udgmenL and reflexes may sLlll be affecLed
for some Llme afLer your procedure especlally lf you conLlnue Lo Lake medlclnes such as Lhose Lo
conLrol paln or nausea lf you have numbness or reduced sensaLlon longer Lhan expecLed conLacL your
anesLhesla speclallsL or docLor
8ecovery from anesLhesla occurs as Lhe effecLs of Lhe anesLheLlc medlclnes wear off and your body
funcLlons begln Lo reLurn lmmedlaLely afLer surgery you wlll be Laken Lo a posLanesLhesla care unlL
(ACu) ofLen called Lhe recovery room 1here nurses wlll care for and observe you A nurse wlll check
your vlLal slgns and bandages and ask abouL your paln level
Pow qulckly you recover from anesLhesla depends on Lhe Lype of anesLhesla you recelved your
response Lo Lhe anesLhesla and wheLher you recelved oLher medlclnes LhaL may prolong your recovery
As you begln Lo awaken from general anesLhesla you may experlence some confuslon dlsorlenLaLlon or
dlfflculLy Lhlnklng clearly 1hls ls normal lL may Lake some Llme before Lhe effecLs of Lhe anesLhesla are
compleLely gone





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AFTFR AtFSTHFSlA
Some of Lhe effecLs of anesLhesla may perslsL for many hours afLer Lhe procedure lor example you may
have some numbness or reduced sensaLlon ln Lhe parL of your body LhaL was anesLheLlzed unLll Lhe
anesLheLlc wears off compleLely ?our muscle conLrol and coordlnaLlon may also be affecLed for many
hours followlng your procedure CLher effecLs may lnclude
aln As Lhe anesLhesla wears off you can expecL Lo feel some paln and dlscomforL from your surgery ln
some cases addlLlonal doses of local or reglonal anesLhesla are glven Lo block paln durlng lnlLlal
recovery aln followlng surgery can cause resLlessness as well as lncreased hearL raLe and blood
pressure lf you experlence paln durlng your recovery Lell Lhe nurse who ls waLchlng you so LhaL your
paln can be relleved
nausea and vomlLlng ?ou may have a dry mouLh and/or nausea nausea and vomlLlng are common
afLer any Lype of anesLhesla lL ls a common cause of an unplanned overnlghL hosplLal sLay and delayed
dlscharge vomlLlng may be a serlous problem lf lL causes paln and sLress or affecLs surglcal lnclslons
nausea and vomlLlng are more llkely wlLh general anesLhesla and lengLhy procedures such as surgery
on Lhe abdomen Lhe mlddle ear or Lhe eyes ln mosL cases nausea afLer anesLhesla does noL lasL long
and can be LreaLed wlLh medlclnes called anLlemeLlcs
Low body LemperaLure (hypoLhermla) ?ou may feel cold and shlver when you are waklng up A mlld
drop ln body LemperaLure ls common durlng general anesLhesla because Lhe anesLheLlc reduces your
bodys heaL producLlon and affecLs Lhe way your body regulaLes lLs LemperaLure Speclal measures are
ofLen Laken durlng surgery Lo keep a person's body LemperaLure from dropplng Loo much
(hypoLhermla) When your normal body funcLlons have reLurned you elLher wlll be Lransferred Lo
anoLher locaLlon ln Lhe hosplLal Lo compleLe your recovery or allowed Lo go home

ln many cases mlnor surglcal procedures are done on an ouLpaLlenL basls 1hls means you wlll go home
Lhe same day 8efore you are dlscharged from an ouLpaLlenL cllnlc you should be alerL and able Lo
undersLand and remember lnsLrucLlons ?ou wlll also wanL Lo make sure you have regalned muscle
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11
conLrol and coordlnaLlon enough Lo walk safely Lake flulds wlLhouL vomlLlng and Lake oral paln
medlclnes safely uependlng on your medlcal hlsLory your surgeon may also wanL you Lo be able Lo
urlnaLe before you are dlscharged