Everything to Know About Anesthesia

If you have ever had your tooth removed without Novocaine, then you understand the importance of anesthesia at a personal level. Today anesthesia seems like a norm, but that was not the case 200 years ago when surgeries were performed when the patient was fully conscious. Even with the apparent benefits of anesthesia, being sedated for surgery can be scary especially if you do not know what to expect. If you are about to go into operation or are curious to know what anesthesia entails, this text is for you.

1. You should consider meeting your anesthesiologist pre-surgery.

In most cases, the patient meets their anesthesiologist before surgery. When patients get to the hospital, their anesthesiologist will talk to them about the types of anesthesia available as well as the pros and cons of each. They will also explain what to expect.

2. Most patients receive general anesthesia.

It is the deepest kind of anesthesia, which renders the patient unconscious throughout surgery. General anesthesia is made using several medications that are given initially through an IV then inhaled by the patient once they are asleep. Some of the medicines used include:

• Narcotics to reduce pains
• Sedatives to enhance relaxation
• Hypnotics to lessen awareness

3. Every patient’s anesthesia is customized.

When the anesthesiologist meets the patient, he or she will create a specific plan for the person’s requirements. Every patient is unique with regards to their aesthetic needs. Older patients who have many medical conditions may require less medication than the younger ones with fewer medical conditions.

4. It is possible to regain consciousness during surgery.

Although rare, some patients wake up during surgery. The condition is known as anesthesia awareness, and it refers to when one regains their knowledge when they are under general anesthesia. The essence of anesthesia is to make you unconscious, give pain relief and prevent movements when under surgery. If the effects fail, a patient can wake up but cannot communicate with the doctors. Some patients do not feel pain even after regaining their consciousness. Physicians can reduce the risk of anesthesia awareness by using a brain monitoring device to check the patient’s consciousness.

5. Lighter sedation methods are available.

For some procedures, the anesthesiologist may choose to administer a lighter form of anesthesia known as deep sedation. Such sedation does not require one to have a breathing tube, and the drugs are administered through IV. During deep sedation, the patient might recall hearing some voices for a while and even opening their eyes. However, they are pain-free and comfortable during this procedure.

6. People who smoke might require more anesthesia than non-smokers.

Anesthesiologists have realized that smokers may need a higher dose of anesthesia than non-smokers. Experts have confirmed this to be true. The phenomenon behind this is that smokers have an irritated airway. Therefore, they may require a high dose of pain medication to enhance their tolerance with the breathing tubes.

7. Being obese might increase your risk of complications.

Anesthesiologists have a harder time providing the appropriate dose of medication and giving it intravenously to obese patients. The extra weight might also interfere with their breathing during surgery. You can reduce the risks by losing some weight before going into surgery.

8. Anesthesia will not prompt you to confess your deepest secrets.

Some patients are skeptical because they fear that using anesthesia will make them say things that they will regret later. It is normal to feel relaxed while receiving anesthesia, but most patients do not talk much about their personal lives. If you ever say anything during the procedure, the general rule is that your statements remain in the operation room.

9. Doctors are developing different ways that anesthesia can work.

When anesthesia had just become a routine during surgery, the doctors who administered the medication did not know much about how it worked. A myth back then was that the drug interfered with fatty molecules in the cell membranes. Today, it is understood that anesthetics interrupt with nerve signals by targeting a particular protein molecule inside the nerve cell membranes. As scientists continue to work more on anesthesia, the medication is likely to not only become stronger but also more effective.