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Anesthesia

You will need anesthesia for your surgery, and the type of anesthesia you receive deserves careful consideration. In addition to considering your pertinent health factors, such as allergies, previous adverse reactions to surgery by you or your family members, and your general health, you and your doctors must decide whether to have general anesthesia or regional anesthesia.

General anesthesia puts you in an unconscious state by depressing your nervous system. Your breathing, heart rate, and temperature are carefully monitored and controlled during anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is generally used for long and extensive surgeries. There are several types of anesthetics available, and your anesthetist will choose based on your medical history and the type of surgery.

Regional anesthesia works on a part of your body without affecting your brain. You are awake during the surgery, but may be given a sedative to help you relax and remain still during the procedure. It might even put you in a light sleep, so you are not aware of the surgery as it is taking place. Regional anesthesia works by placing the anesthetic near your spinal cord that controls a part of your body. It is considered safer than general anesthesia.

Pain relief after surgery is also an important consideration. While all medications have risks and potential adverse affects, pain after surgery should be controlled. If it is not, the spinal cord becomes sensitized to pain, and the pain becomes more difficult to control. In addition, pain can interfere with your healing process and recovery.