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Preparing for General Anesthesia

Tips and Information to Calm Anxiety and a Glimpse of What to Expect

Mar 26, 2009 A.C. Leach

Use the following tips about anesthesia to prepare for and combat the anxiety or fear that can be associated with going to sleep for surgery.

Preparation before general anesthesia is an important key to receiving a successful anesthetic. It is usually necessary for medical personnel to obtain a full and accurate health history from their patients, especially the details of past experiences with anesthesia or a family history of problems with anesthesia.

Furthermore, blood work, special tests such as an EKG, or a specialist's evaluation (such as a heart specialist) may be warranted. Certain medical conditions and the type of surgery or procedure dictate the extent of pre-anesthesia work-up. Tests and the health history are used to create an optimal anesthesia plan.

There are instructions that should be followed prior to having anesthesia. For example, some medications should not be taken before surgery, so ask for clarity if there is doubt about which medications to take and which to skip. Also, fasting is required before having routine general anesthesia.

Another way to prepare for anesthesia is to visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists web page for patient education. The ASA has created many brochures to answer questions and address concerns of patients undergoing surgery and anesthesia.

What Happens During General Anesthesia

General anesthesia can be given by a number of methods. These methods include intravenous and inhaled modes of delivery. In addition, a breathing tube may be required during anesthesia to help with respiration. Most people have no recollection of the breathing tube at all.

An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will vigilantly monitor vital functions such as heart and lung function during general anesthesia. This gives the surgeon or physician performing the procedure the freedom to concentrate on her work.

What Happens After General Anesthesia

Most people wake up within minutes after their procedures are completed. Occasionally, the care team may decide that a patient should temporarily remain sedated with a breathing tube after surgery. This occurs in circumstances such as some open heart surgeries, extensive trauma surgeries, and in cases of very ill patients.

Nurses trained to identify post-operative and post-anesthesia problems will then monitor the patient. This care often occurs in the recovery room. Vital signs are monitored as are the effects of anesthesia and surgery. Common side effects of anesthesia include nausea and sore throat. These are usually minor complaints.

After the recovery room, most people will go home, to a hospital bed, or to the intensive care unit. The decision is based on one's medical condition, type of surgery, and complications that may have arisen. That said, most have an uneventful anesthetic experience and make a full recovery.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not substitute for medical advice from your healthcare provider.

The copyright of the article Preparing for General Anesthesia in General Medicine is owned by A.C. Leach. Permission to republish Preparing for General Anesthesia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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