General anesthesia

The Mayo Clinic Diet Book, learn more

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

Why general anesthesia?
Besides general anesthesia, other forms of anesthesia may provide only light sedation or use injections to numb only a small area (local anesthesia) or a larger region (regional anesthesia) of your body.

Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits of the various options for anesthesia. He or she may recommend general anesthesia for procedures that:

  • Take a long time
  • Include significant blood loss
  • Expose you to a cold environment
  • Affect your breathing, such as chest or upper abdominal surgery
Risks Definition
References
  1. Falk SA, et al. Overview of anesthesia and anesthetic choices. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
  2. Brunton LL, et al. Goodman & Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=28. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
  3. Katzung BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=723. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
  4. Miller RD, et al. Miller's Anesthesia. 7th ed. Orlando, Fla.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06959-8..00001-7&isbn=978-0-443-06959-8&uniqId=371665259-3. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
  5. Types of anesthesia providers. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Who-Is-An-Anesthesiologist/Types-of-Anesthesia-Providers.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2012.
  6. Understanding the risks of anesthesia. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Anesthesia-Topics/Michigan/Understanding-the-Risks-of-Anesthesia.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2012.
  7. Anesthesia experience. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/FAQs/anesthesia%20experience.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2012.
  8. Seniors and anesthesia. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Anesthesia-Topics/Seniors-and-Anesthesia.aspx. Accessed Oct. 10, 2012.
  9. Anesthesia awareness during surgery. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Anesthesia-Topics/Anesthesia-Awareness-During-Surgery.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2012.
  10. Q&A: Anesthesia awareness during surgery. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Anesthesia-Topics/QA-Anesthesia-Awareness-During-Surgery.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2012.
  11. Brunicardi FC, ed., et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=50. Accessed Oct. 10, 2012.
  12. Q&A: What you should know before surgery. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/What-To-Expect/QA-What-You-Should-Know-Before-Surgery.aspx. Accessed Oct. 10, 2012.
  13. Morgan EG, et al. Clinical Anesthesiology. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceToc.aspx?resourceID=53#276. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
  14. Facts about obstructive sleep apnea. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Anesthesia-Topics/Facts-About-Obstructive-Sleep-Apnea.aspx. Accessed Oct. 11, 2012.
  15. Bischoff P, et al. Awareness under general anesthesia. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. 2011;108:1.
  16. Whinney C. Perioperative medication management: General principles and practical applications. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2009;76(suppl):S126.
  17. Omega-3 supplements: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/omega3/introduction.htm. Accessed Oct. 18, 2012.
  18. Vretsakis G, et al. Management of intraoperative fluid balance and blood conservation techniques in adult cardiac surgery. The Heart Surgery Forum. 2011;14:E28.
  19. Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 2, 2013.
MY00100 Jan. 19, 2013

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger