Anesthesia for Surgical Patients

General anesthesia is the most common type of anesthesia. Sometimes, people refer to general anesthesia as “going to sleep.” General anesthesia is performed by giving a patient medications through an intravenous (IV) catheter. Once those medications have been given, the patient quickly falls asleep. Once asleep, a soft breathing tube is inserted into the mouth to protect the airway. The patient doesn’t feel the tube, but he or she may have a temporary sore throat afterwards. Occasionally, people can be nauseous when they wake up. People generally feel groggy for a little after a general anesthetic.

Spinal anesthesia can be offered to patients having procedures located from the belly button and below. Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of a small amount of medicine into the back after the patient has been given sedation. After the medicine has been injected, the lower half of the patient’s body becomes temporarily numb. Patients are often given medicine to help them relax during the case. Spinal anesthetics have benefits including less nausea afterward surgery, better pain control and patients often feel less groggy.

Many procedures can be done under heavy sedation. Anesthesiologists refer to heavy sedation as “monitored anesthesia care” or a MAC. A MAC is performed by giving patients medication through an intravenous (IV) catheter. Patients often breathe extra oxygen during the case. The level of sedation in a MAC is deeper than “conscious sedation,” which might be given during a colonoscopy, but not as deep as a general anesthetic. Although it is possible to remember being in the operating room, patients rarely remember anything having to do with the procedure.

A peripheral nerve block is a procedure usually done in the preoperative area before the patient goes into the operating room. During a peripheral nerve block, the anesthesiologist identifies specific nerves in your body, and puts numbing medication around those nerves. Once that medication has been given, that part of the body will become numb. The purpose of the peripheral nerve block is to decrease pain after your procedure. A peripheral nerve block is often the most effective form of pain control. It also allows the anesthesia team to use less narcotic medication, which can make you nauseous and groggy.