What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is a drug-induced state resulting in partial or total loss of sensation and/or consciousness (i.e. local/regional anesthetic or general anesthetic or a combination of both.)
What are the different types of anesthesia?
There are several types of anesthesia. The ones you are most likely to encounter are listed below:
- Local/Regional Anesthesia: Local anesthesia results in the loss of sensation to a small area of the body and is most often administered by your surgeon. Regional anesthetics, which can include spinal blocks, epidural blocks, and extremity blocks, result in the loss of sensation to a larger part of the body (i.e an arm or a leg) and are administered by an anesthesiologist.
- Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC): Most commonly known as IV Sedation, MAC involves the administration of intravenous sedatives and pain medications that may be used to supplement local anesthesia provided by your surgeon. During surgery, a level of sedation is maintained that keeps you unaware of the surgical procedure. Once the surgical procedure is complete, the IV medications are discontinued and you will awaken within minutes.
- General Anesthesia: General anesthesia is a state of deep unconsciousness achieved through the use of IV medications and/or inhalational medications.
The type of anesthesia administered depends on many factors, including the type of procedure, the location of the surgery, surgeon preference, and patient preference. Choice of anesthetic can be either one or a combination of the techniques described above.
Who will provide my anesthesia?
Your anesthesia will be administered personally by one of our Board-Certified Anesthesiologists or as the leader of the care team supervising our experienced Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or Anesthesia Assistants.
How am I monitored while I’m anesthetized?
While under anesthesia, we use state-of-the-art devices to closely monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure, and the oxygen concentration in your blood.
What happens when my procedure is completed?
After your procedure is completed, skilled nursing personnel will continue to monitor your vital signs and provide pain medication and comfort measures until you have met established discharge criteria. You will then be released to go home with a responsible adult.