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Before general anesthesia
Before you undergo general anesthesia, a medical professional specially trained to deliver anesthetics will talk with you and may ask questions about:
- Your health history
- Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements you take
- Allergies
- Your past experiences with anesthesia
The information you provide will help the anesthesia specialist choose the drugs that will work best and be safest for you.
During general anesthesia
In most cases, the anesthesia is started with medication delivered through an intravenous line in your arm, but sometimes it can be started with a gas that you breathe from a mask. For example, children who are afraid of needles may prefer to go to sleep with a mask. Once you are asleep, a tube may be inserted into your mouth and down your windpipe to ensure you get enough oxygen and to protect your lungs from blood or body secretions, such as from your stomach. In some cases this breathing tube isn't needed, which reduces your chance of a sore throat after surgery.
A member of the anesthesia care team monitors you continuously during your procedure, adjusting your medications, breathing, temperature, fluids and blood pressure as needed. Any abnormalities that occur during the surgery are corrected by administering additional medications, fluids and, sometimes, blood transfusions.
After general anesthesia
When the surgery is complete, the anesthesia drugs are discontinued, and you gradually awaken either in the operating room or the recovery room. You'll probably feel groggy and a little confused when you first awaken. Other common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Shivering
- Sleepiness
- White PF, et al. General anesthetics. In: Katzung BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=4512662. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Life support and anesthesia. In: Klingensmith ME, et al. Washington Manual of Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3.1b/ovidweb.cgi. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Who is an anesthesiologist? Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/who_is_anesthesiologist.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Anesthesia topics. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/medical_specialties.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Postanesthesia care. In: Morgan EG, et al. Clinical Anesthesiology. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=895730&searchStr=anesthesia%2c+general#895730. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Dorian RS. Anesthesia of the surgical patient. In: Brunicardi CF, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=50. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Frequently asked questions. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/faqs.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
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