Your Anesthesia
What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is the branch of medicine which deals with the relief and prevention of pain during and following surgical, obstetric, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
The anesthesiologist is the person who is responsible for your comfort and your safety during your surgery. In addition to giving you the medications needed for the anesthesia, the anesthesiologist monitors your vital signs (such things as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen content, body temperature, breathing...) and alters them as necessary. He or she is also in charge of fluids that you might receive and , if necessary, blood transfusions. Finally, any other medical conditions that you might have (diabetes, asthma, hypertension, heart problems) will be treated by the anesthesiologist while you are in their care.
Local Anesthesia is the form most people are familiar with. A "local" involves an injection or application of a numbing agent to the area under examination or repair.
General Anesthesia is commonly used in major surgery to help patients avoid pain or memory of the event. Many different medicines are used, depending on the length of the operation, the location of the injury or surgery.
General anesthesia is administered by physicians or nurse anesthetists, who specialize in caring for patients undergoing surgery. They monitor the patient closely, watching for reactions to medications and keep surgeons informed about their status.
Conscious Sedation is a form of anesthesia that combines pain management with quicker recovery. Many patients who have been under conscious sedation (sometimes called "twilight sleep") wake up believing their surgery never happened at all! They often report that they feel rested and relaxed - as if they had just taken a nap.
The choice of anesthesia is up to you and your surgeon. She will know which treatment is best for your condition and special health needs.