Types Of Anesthesia En Espanol

Anesthesia (an-iss-thee-zuh) is medicine to make you comfortable during surgery or a procedure. There are many types of anesthesia. The anesthesia medicine may be given in your IV, through a face mask, or through a tube in your nose or throat. It can also be given as a shot in your back or as a shot in the area where you will have surgery. The type of anesthesia you may have depends on the type of surgery or procedure you are having. You and your caregiver will decide which type of anesthesia is best for you. Following are some of the types of anesthesia.

General Anesthesia:
o

This medicine is used to keep you completely asleep during surgery. General anesthesia can be used for most procedures or surgeries. The medicine may be given as a liquid in your IV. It may also be given as a gas through a face mask, endotracheal (end-o-tra-kee-ull) tube, or a laryngeal (luh-rin-g-ull) mask airway. An endotracheal tube or "ET" tube is put into your mouth or nose and down your throat into your lungs. The ET tube helps protect your windpipe during surgery. The laryngeal mask airway is also known as LMA. This is a tube with a small mask on the end that fits into the back of your throat instead of down your windpipe. The small mask is filled with air. The ET tube and the LMA allow you to breathe in oxygen or anesthesia gas during surgery.

Epidural Anesthesia: This is medicine used to numb you from about the nipple line to the waist and down. While lying on your side or sitting up, a catheter (tiny tube) is put into your back through a needle. The needle is then taken out but the catheter is left in place to give you more medicine if needed. You are awake during surgery but may be given medicine in your IV so that you are sleepy. Your lower body is numb and you may be able to move your legs but should not feel pain. Feeling returns to your legs when caregivers stop putting medicine in the catheter and when the medicine wears off. Epidural anesthesia is good for procedures below the waist. Epidural anesthesia can give longer lasting pain relief than spinal anesthesia.

Interscalene (in-ter-ska-lene) Block: This medicine is given as a shot in your neck to numb your shoulder and arm. You are awake during surgery but may be given medicine in your IV so that you are sleepy. This kind of anesthesia may be given in addition to medicine to keep you completely asleep during surgery. You may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery but should not feel pain. Feeling returns when the medicine wears off. Intravenous (IV) Regional Anesthesia: This is medicine put into an IV in the injured arm or leg. A pressure cuff is put on your upper arm or leg. The pressure cuff is tightened after caregivers tightly wrap your arm or leg with a stretchy bandage. This cuff keeps the medicine in the arm or leg so you do not have pain. You are awake (but may be sleepy) during surgery. You may also be given medicine in your IV so that you are sleepy. This type of anesthesia may be called a Bier block if done on your arm. IV regional anesthesia can be used for many kinds of surgeries or procedures on your arm or leg. Local Anesthesia: This is medicine given before a procedure or surgery to dull the pain. It is usually given as a shot in several places in and around the surgery area. The shot helps to numb the nerves in that area. This medicine can sometimes be given as an ointment or spray. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any numbing medicine, such as "novocaine" or "lidocaine." You are awake during the surgery or procedure. Local anesthesia is best used for tests, procedures, or surgeries where a lot of pain is not expected. Peripheral Nerve Block: This type of anesthesia is medicine put into your arm or leg through a shot. Your arm or leg will be numb for 4 to 18 hours depending on the type of medicine used. You are awake (but may be sleepy) during surgery. You may also be given medicine in your IV so that you are sleepy. This type of block is also called an axillary block if the anesthesia is given in your armpit. This anesthesia can be used for many types of surgery on the arms or legs. Saddle Block or Caudal (kaw-dull) Anesthesia: This is medicine used to numb you below the waist. You may lie on your abdomen (belly) while your caregiver puts a shot of medicine in the lowest part of your spine. You may lie on your back with your legs up in leg holders (stirrups). You are awake during the surgery but may be given medicine in your IV so that your are sleepy. Saddle block or caudal anesthesia is used for procedures or surgeries of the rear end or legs.

Spinal Anesthesia: This is medicine put into your back through a shot while lying on your side or sitting up. You are awake during surgery but may be given medicine in your IV so that you are sleepy. You are numb from about the nipple line to the waist and down. How high the numbness goes depends on where your surgery will be. You are not able to move your legs when the medicine starts to work. You can move your legs in 1 to 4 hours when the medicine wears off. Spinal anesthesia is best for surgeries below the waist.

Care:
Before the surgery or procedure, you may also get medicine in an IV to make you feel sleepy and more relaxed. If you are awake during the surgery or procedure, you may still feel pressure and pushing. Tell your caregiver if your have pain so you can be given more pain medicine.

Informed Consent:
You have the right to understand your health condition in words that your know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your caregiver should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. This consent also gives permission for anesthesia. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

Risks:
There are risks with anesthesia and your caregivers will watch you closely to treat any problems. Some surgeries cannot be done at all if you choose not to have anesthesia. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care.

You could have a bad reaction to the medicine. You could feel sick to your stomach after surgery. It may take awhile for the medicine to wear off.

You may have a sore throat after general anesthesia. Ask your caregiver about using throat lozenges or gargle with warm salt water. The sore throat is usually gone in 1 to 2 days. You could have a seizure or heart attack. Your temperature could go very high and you might die. You could have long-lasting numbness, dolor, or loss of function of body parts after block types of anesthesia. Do not make important decisions for 24 hours after having anesthesia because anesthesia medicine may make your thinking unclear.

Anesthesia - Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia involves the use of medicines to block pain sensations (analgesia) during surgery and other medical procedures. Anesthesia also reduces many of your body's normal stress reactions to surgery. The type of anesthesia used for your surgery depends on:
Recommended Related to Pain Management
Hip Pain: Causes and Treatment The hip joint is designed to withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. This ball-and-socket joint -- the body's largest -- fits together in a way that allows for fluid movement. Whenever you use the hip (for example, by going for a run), a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket. Despite its durability, the hip joint isn't indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can... Read the Hip Pain: Causes and Treatment article > >

o o o o

Your medical history, including other surgeries you have had and any conditions you have (such as diabetes). You will also be asked whether you have had any allergic reactions to any anesthetics or medicines or whether any family members have had reactions to anesthetics. The results of your physical exam. Aphysical exam will be done to evaluate your current health and identify any potential risks or complications that may affect your anesthesia care. Tests such as blood tests or anelectrocardiogram (EKG, ECG), if needed. The type of surgery that you are having. You need to be able to lie still and remain calm during surgery done with local or regional anesthesia. Young children usually cannot stay still during surgery and need general anesthesia. Adults who are extremely anxious, in pain, or have muscle disorders also may have difficulty remaining relaxed and cooperative. Some surgical procedures require specific positions that may be uncomfortable for long periods if you are awake.

Some procedures require the use of medicines that cause muscle relaxation and affect your ability to breathe on your own. In such cases, your breathing can best be supported if general anesthesia is used.
Based on your medical condition, your anesthesia specialist may prefer one type of anesthesia over another for your surgery. When the risks and benefits of different anesthesia options are equal, your anesthesia specialist may let you choose the type of anesthesia. Anesthesia methods There are several ways that anesthesia can be given.

Local anesthesia involves injection of a local anesthetic (numbing agent) directly into the surgical area to block pain sensations. It is used only for minor procedures on a limited part of the body. You may remain awake, though you will likely receive medicine to help you relax or sleep during the surgery. Regional anesthesia involves injection of a local anesthetic (numbing agent) around major nerves or the spinal cord to block pain from a larger but still limited part of the body. You will likely receive medicine to help you relax or sleep during surgery. Major types of regional anesthesia include: Peripheral nerve blocks. A local anesthetic is injected near a specific nerve or group of nerves to block pain from the area of the body supplied by the nerve. Nerve blocks are most commonly used for procedures on the hands, arms,feet, legs, or face. Epidural and spinal anesthesia. A local anesthetic is injected near the spinal cord and nerves that connect to the spinal cord to block pain from an entire region of the body, such as the belly, hips, or legs. General anesthesia is given into a vein (intravenously) or is inhaled. It affects the brain as well as the entire body. You are completely unaware and do not feel pain during the surgery. Also, general anesthesia often causes forgetfulness (amnesia) right after surgery (postoperative period).
For some minor procedures, a qualified health professional who is not an anesthesia specialist may give some limited types of anesthesia, such asprocedural sedation. Procedural sedation combines the use of local anesthesia with small doses of sedative or analgesic agents (painkillers) to relax you. Medicines used for anesthesia A wide variety of medicines are used to provide anesthesia. Their effects can be complex. And they can interact with other medicines to cause different effects than when they are used alone. Anyone receiving anesthesia-even procedural sedation-must be monitored continuously to protect and maintain vital body functions. The complex task of managing the delivery of anesthesia medicines as well as monitoring your vital functions is done by anesthesia specialists. Medicines used for anesthesia help you relax, help relieve pain, induce sleepiness or forgetfulness, or make you unconscious. Anesthesia medicines include:

Local anesthetics, such as bupivacaine or lidocaine, that are injected directly into the body area involved in the surgery. Intravenous (IV) anesthetics, such as fentanyl, propofol, or sodium thiopental, that are given through a vein.

Inhalation anesthetics, such as isoflurane and nitrous oxide, that you breathe through a mask.
Other medicines that are often used during anesthesia include:

Muscle relaxants, which block transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles. They are used during anesthesia to temporarily relax muscle tone as needed. Reversal agents, which are given to counteract or reverse the effects of other medicines such as muscle relaxants or sedatives given during anesthesia. Reversal agents may be used to reduce the time it takes to recover from anesthesia.