Topic Overview
What is anesthesia?
Anesthesia controls pain during surgery or other medical
procedures. It includes using medicines, and sometimes close monitoring, to
keep you comfortable. It can also help control breathing, blood pressure, blood
flow, and heart rate and rhythm, when needed.
An
anesthesiologist
or a
nurse anesthetist
takes charge of your comfort and
safety during surgery. This topic focuses on anesthesia care that you get from
these specialists.
Anesthesia may be used to:
- Relax you.
- Block
pain.
- Make you sleepy or forgetful.
- Make you
unconscious for your surgery.
Other medicines also may be used to relax your muscles during
surgery.
What are the types of anesthesia?
-
Local anesthesia
numbs a small part of the body. You get a shot of local
anesthetic directly into the surgical area to block pain. It is used only for
minor procedures. You may stay awake during the procedure, or you may get
medicine to help you relax or sleep.
-
Regional anesthesia
blocks pain to a larger part of your body. Anesthetic is
injected around major nerves or the spinal cord. You may get medicine to help
you relax or sleep. Major types of regional anesthesia include:
- Peripheral nerve blocks. A nerve block is
a shot of anesthetic near a specific nerve or group of nerves. It blocks pain
in the part of the body supplied by the nerve. Nerve blocks are most often used
for procedures on the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face.
- Epidural
and spinal anesthesia. This is a shot of anesthetic near the spinal cord and
the nerves that connect to it. It blocks pain from an entire region of the
body, such as the belly, hips, or legs.
-
General anesthesia
affects the brain as
well as the entire body. You may get it through a vein (intravenously), or you
may breathe it in. With general anesthesia, you are completely unaware and do
not feel pain during the surgery. General anesthesia also often causes you to
forget the surgery and the time right after it.
What determines the type of anesthesia used?
The type of anesthesia used depends on several things:
- Your past and current health. The doctor or
nurse will consider other surgeries you have had and any health problems you
have, such as
heart disease
, lung disease, or
diabetes
. You also will be asked whether you or any
family members have had an allergic reaction to any anesthetics or
medicines.
- The reason for your surgery and the type of
surgery.
- The results of tests, such as blood tests or an
electrocardiogram
(EKG, ECG).
Your doctor or nurse may prefer one type of anesthesia over
another for your surgery. In some cases, your doctor or nurse may let you
choose which type to have. Sometimes, such as in an emergency, you do not get
to choose.
What are the potential risks and complications of anesthesia?
Major side effects and other problems of anesthesia are not
common, especially in people who are in good health overall. But all anesthesia
has some risk. Your specific risks depend on the type of anesthesia you get,
your health, and how you respond to the medicines used.
Some health problems increase your chances of problems from
anesthesia. Your doctor or nurse will identify any health problems you have
that could affect your care.
Your doctor or nurse will closely watch your vital signs, such as
your
blood pressure
and heart rate, during anesthesia and
surgery, so most side effects and problems can be avoided.
How should you prepare for anesthesia?
Make sure you get a list of instructions to help you prepare for
your surgery. Your surgeon will also let you know what will happen when you get
to the clinic or hospital, during surgery, and afterward.
Your doctor will tell you when to stop eating and drinking before
your surgery. When you stop depends on your health problem and the type of
anesthesia that will be used. If you take any medicines regularly, ask your
doctor or nurse if you should take your medicines on the day before or the day
of your surgery.
You have to give your consent to be given anesthesia. Your doctor
or nurse will discuss the best type of anesthesia for you and review risks,
benefits, and other choices.
Many people are nervous before they have anesthesia and surgery.
Mental relaxation methods as well as medicines can help you relax.
What happens when you are recovering from anesthesia?
Right after surgery you will be taken to the recovery room.
Nurses will care for you there under the direction of an anesthesiologist. A
nurse will check your vital signs and any bandages and ask about how much pain
you have. If you are in pain, don't be afraid to say so.
Some effects of anesthesia may last for many hours after surgery.
If you had
local or regional anesthesia
, you may have some
numbness or reduced feeling in part of your body. Your muscle control and
coordination may also be affected.
Other common side effects of anesthesia are closely watched and
managed to reduce your discomfort. These side effects include:
- Nausea and vomiting. In most cases, this can
be treated and does not last long.
- A mild drop in body temperature.
You may feel cold and may shiver when you first wake up.
For minor surgeries, you may go home the same day. For more
complicated surgeries, you may have to move to a hospital room to continue your
recovery. If you stay in the hospital, your doctor or nurse will visit you to
check on your recovery from anesthesia and answer any questions you
have.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Planning for anesthesia:
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Types of anesthesia:
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Risks and possible problems:
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Preparing for anesthesia:
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What happens during anesthesia:
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Recovering from anesthesia:
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Preparing for Anesthesia
Being well-prepared for
anesthesia
may help you remain calm and relaxed. If
you take the time to learn about your procedure and the anesthesia, you will be
better able to understand the information and instructions you are given.
Knowing what to expect can help decrease tension and anxiety.
Usually, your surgeon's office, clinic, or hospital will contact
you in advance to give you information about what to do the evening before and
the day of the procedure. Your surgeon will also provide information about what
will happen when you arrive at the clinic or hospital, during the procedure,
and afterward.
Food and drink restrictions
As part of the preparation for your procedure, you are not
allowed to eat or drink anything for a certain time period before anesthesia.
The following times are averages. In some cases, such as in those people with
gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), the
restrictions must be started earlier for safety.
- Do not eat for 6 hours before
anesthesia.
- You may drink clear liquids only (water, filtered apple juice,
black coffee or tea, and clear carbonated beverages such as Seven-Up) up to 2
hours before your surgery. You should having nothing else to eat or drink for
at least 6 hours before anesthesia.
Food and fluids are restricted to reduce the risk of
aspiration by reducing the contents of your stomach.
Aspiration occurs when an object or liquid is inhaled into the respiratory
tract when a person regurgitates contents into the throat. Aspiration during
anesthesia is very uncommon, but it can cause severe complications.
Medicine restrictions
If you take any medicines on a regular basis, such as diabetes
medicines or heart medicines, ask your surgeon whether you should take your
medicines on the day before or the day of your procedure. Some medicines may
interact with the anesthetics and other medicines used for anesthesia.
Informed consent
Before any nonemergency surgery or procedure, most surgery
centers and hospitals have a surgery consent for you to sign. This is called an
informed consent because your surgeon will explain why your surgery is needed,
what it will involve, its risks and expected outcome, and how long it will take
you to recover. After discussing this information, you may be asked to sign the
informed consent. It needs to be signed before you receive any medicines that
could affect your state of mind.
Your anesthesia specialist will discuss the anesthesia care for
your surgery so that you will understand what is involved, and you can then
give your informed consent. You will be able to ask questions and express any
concerns.
If the person undergoing anesthesia is a child or is mentally
incompetent to sign a consent form, the consent may be signed by a responsible
family member or guardian.
Mental relaxation techniques
Many people experience anxiety before medical procedures,
especially surgery. Mental relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety. If
you will be awake during the procedure, you also can use these techniques to
relax while it is being done. They can also be used to help reduce pain and
anxiety following your procedure.
Some mental relaxation techniques that may be useful
include:
- Optimistic self-recitation, in which you
focus on and recite thoughts that are optimistic and
positive.
-
Guided imagery (visualization), a method of using your
imagination to help you relax and release tension by concentrating on a
pleasant experience or restful scene.
-
Meditation, to help
focus your attention on feeling calm and relaxed. You may want to focus on a
single image, a sound, or your own breathing.
- Distraction
techniques, such as listening to music through headphones.
Medicine given before anesthesia
You may be given a medicine before anesthesia. Medicines may be
given by mouth or by injection immediately before anesthesia.
Medicine is given before anesthesia for many reasons,
including:
- Relieve anxiety. The medicines most commonly
given to relieve anxiety are benzodiazepines such as midazolam (Versed),
diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Relieve or prevent pain.
Medicines to relieve pain (analgesics) may be given to people who are in pain
before the procedure begins as well as to reduce pain during the
procedure.
- Reduce secretions. Certain medicines (anticholinergic
agents) may be used to reduce secretions in the mouth and respiratory tract.
- Reduce the volume and acidity of fluids in the stomach to help
reduce the risk of aspiration. Aspiration occurs when an object or liquid is
inhaled into the respiratory tract. In some cases, medicines are given to
reduce or neutralize stomach acidity in order to lower the risk of injury if
stomach juices are regurgitated into the throat or inhaled into the
airway.
- Reduce nausea and vomiting. People who are at risk for
nausea and vomiting either during the procedure or during recovery may receive
medicines called antiemetics.
- Control body functions. Medicines may
be given that help control the body's
automatic responses
to the pain and stress of surgery.
Other medicines may be given to help maintain heartbeat or blood pressure at a
stable and regular level.
Other preparation
For many procedures, medicines are given through a vein (
intravenously, IV
). An IV is usually inserted into a
vein in the hand or lower arm. When the IV is in place, medicines or fluids can
be given quickly into your bloodstream. Children and some adults may find
insertion of the IV painful and stressful. In these cases, the IV may be
inserted after they have been sedated or after an inhaled anesthetic has been
given through a mask.
Some of the
instruments used to monitor your breathing, blood
pressure, and heart function may be placed on your body while you are being
prepared for your surgery.
Helping children prepare for anesthesia
Children do better when receiving anesthesia if they know what to
expect. You can help relieve your child's anxiety or fears by being calm and
explaining what will happen at the clinic or hospital. Explain to your child
that he or she will be in unfamiliar surroundings but that many doctors and
nurses will be there to help.
It is best to be honest and explain that there may be some
discomfort or pain after the procedure, but reassure your child that you will
be close by. Bringing familiar items such as books or toys may help comfort and
distract your child.
Types of Anesthesia
Anesthesia
involves the use of medicines to block pain
sensations (analgesia) during surgery and other medical procedures. Anesthesia
also reduces many of your body's normal
stress reactions
to surgery.
The type of anesthesia used for your surgery depends on:
- Your
medical history, including other surgeries you have
had and any conditions you have (such as
diabetes
). You will also be asked whether you have had
any allergic reactions to any anesthetics or medicines or whether any family
members have had reactions to anesthetics.
- The results of your
physical examination. A physical exam will be done to
evaluate your current health and identify any potential risks or complications
that may affect your anesthesia care.
- Tests such as blood tests or
an
electrocardiogram
(EKG, ECG), if
needed.
- The type of surgery that you are having.
- You need to be able to lie still and remain
calm during surgery done with
local or regional anesthesia
.
- Young
children usually cannot stay still during surgery and need general
anesthesia.
- Adults who are extremely anxious, in pain, or have
muscle disorders also may have difficulty remaining relaxed and
cooperative.
- Some surgical procedures require specific positions
that may be uncomfortable for long periods if you are awake.
- Some
procedures require the use of medicines that cause muscle relaxation and affect
your ability to breathe on your own. In such cases, your breathing can best be
supported if general anesthesia is used.
Based on your medical condition, your anesthesia specialist may
prefer one type of anesthesia over another for your surgery. When the risks and
benefits of different anesthesia options are equal, your anesthesia specialist
may let you choose the type of anesthesia.
Anesthesia methods
There are several ways that anesthesia can be given.
-
Local anesthesia involves injection of
a local anesthetic (numbing agent) directly into the surgical area to block
pain sensations. It is used only for minor procedures on a limited part of the
body. You may remain awake, though you will likely receive medicine to help you
relax or sleep during the surgery.
-
Regional anesthesia
involves injection of a local anesthetic (numbing agent) around major nerves or
the spinal cord to block pain from a larger but still limited part of the body.
You will likely receive medicine to help you relax or sleep during surgery.
Major types of regional anesthesia include:
-
Peripheral nerve blocks. A local
anesthetic is injected near a specific nerve or group of nerves to block pain
from the area of the body supplied by the nerve. Nerve blocks are most commonly
used for procedures on the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face.
-
Epidural and spinal anesthesia. A local anesthetic is injected near the spinal
cord and nerves that connect to the spinal cord to block pain from an entire
region of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, or legs.
-
General anesthesia is given into a vein
(intravenously) or is inhaled. It affects the brain as well as the entire body.
You are completely unaware and do not feel pain during the surgery. In
addition, general anesthesia often causes forgetfulness (amnesia) right after
surgery (postoperative period).
For some minor procedures, a qualified health professional who is
not an anesthesia specialist may give some limited types of anesthesia, such as
procedural sedation. Procedural sedation combines the
use of local anesthesia with small doses of sedative or analgesic agents
(painkillers) to relax you.
Medicines used for anesthesia
A wide variety of medicines are used to provide anesthesia. Their
effects can be complex, and they can interact with other medicines to cause
different effects than when they are used alone. Anyone receiving
anesthesia—even procedural sedation—must be monitored continuously to protect
and maintain vital body functions. The complex task of managing the delivery of
anesthesia medicines as well as monitoring your vital functions is done by
anesthesia specialists.
Medicines used for anesthesia help you relax, help relieve pain,
induce sleepiness or forgetfulness, or make you unconscious. Anesthesia
medicines include:
-
Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine
(Xylocaine) or bupivacaine (Marcaine), that are injected directly into the body
area involved in the surgery.
-
Intravenous (IV) anesthetics, such as sodium thiopental (Pentothal), midazolam (Versed),
propofol (Diprivan), or fentanyl (Sublimaze), that are given through a
vein.
-
Inhalation anesthetics, such as isoflurane and nitrous
oxide, that you breathe through a mask.
Other medicines that are often used during anesthesia
include:
-
Muscle relaxants, which block transmission of nerve
impulses to the muscles. They are used during anesthesia to temporarily relax
muscle tone as needed.
-
Reversal agents, which are given to
counteract or reverse the effects of other medicines such as muscle relaxants
or sedatives given during anesthesia. Reversal agents may be used to reduce the
time it takes to recover from anesthesia.
What Happens During Anesthesia
You likely will be given
anesthesia
by an
anesthesia specialist. Final preparations before your
surgery may include:
- Attaching
monitoring instruments to check your breathing, oxygen
level, heart rate, blood pressure, and other body
functions.
- Positioning your body for surgery. You will be placed in
a position that allows your surgeon access to the appropriate body area and
avoids unnecessary pressure on any parts of your body.
The three main phases of anesthesia are induction, maintenance, and
emergence.
Induction
The first phase of anesthesia, when you first begin receiving an
anesthetic, is called induction.
For
local anesthesia and many types of
regional anesthesia, induction occurs when a local
anesthetic is injected into the part of your body that needs to be
anesthetized. Local and regional anesthesia often are given with other
medicines that make you relaxed or sleepy (sedatives) or relieve pain
(analgesics). These medicines are often given through a vein (
intravenously, IV
) before the local anesthetic is
given.
Induction of
epidural and spinal anesthesia may require the
insertion of a needle into the space around the spinal nerves in the lower
back. You will receive an injection of local anesthetic to reduce discomfort
before the needle is inserted.
General anesthesia is often induced with
intravenous anesthetics, but
inhalation anesthetics also may be used.
- Because they enter directly into the
bloodstream, intravenous anesthetics usually cause unconsciousness in less than
1 minute.
- Inhalation anesthetics also act quickly, but you must
inhale them for a short time before they cause unconsciousness. Inhalation
anesthetics are usually given through a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
Induction with inhalation agents is mainly used for small children and adults
who do not yet have an intravenous (IV) catheter.
Maintenance and monitoring
The second phase of anesthesia is called maintenance. During
maintenance, the anesthesia specialist maintains a balance of medicines while
carefully monitoring your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and other
vital functions. Anesthesia is adjusted based on your responses during the
procedure.
With local anesthesia and regional nerve blocks, maintenance
frequently requires additional injections of sedatives to prolong the effects
for more lengthy procedures.
For general anesthesia, after you are unconscious, anesthesia may
be maintained with an inhalation anesthetic alone, with intravenous
anesthetics, or most commonly with a combination of the two. Very often,
inhalation anesthetics are given through an
endotracheal (ET) tube
or a laryngeal mask airway
(LMA), which is an airway placed at the back of your throat but not in your
windpipe like an ET tube. The airway is inserted after you become
unconscious.
It also is common during general anesthesia for you to be given
other medicines intravenously to maintain stable vital functions and to help
prevent or decrease pain or nausea after the procedure.
Emergence
The final phase of anesthesia is called emergence. When your
procedure is completed, the anesthesia specialist will stop giving the
anesthetic. As your body clears the anesthetic medicines from your system, the
effects begin to wear off, and your body functions begin to return. How quickly
you emerge from anesthesia depends on the anesthetics and other medicines used
and on your response to the medicines.
With local and regional anesthesia, emergence occurs as the
effect of the injected anesthetic wears off and sensation returns. How long it
takes for sensation to return depends on the type of anesthetic used, how much
you were given, and the area of your body that was affected. Local anesthesia
and some regional nerve blocks may wear off within 1 to 2 hours. Emergence from
epidural or spinal blocks may take longer.
Emergence from general anesthesia begins when the intravenous or
inhalation anesthetic is stopped. It may take a short time before your body
clears the anesthetic from your system. You will be closely monitored during
emergence to make sure that you are breathing well on your own; your heartbeat,
blood pressure, and other vital functions stay at normal levels; and your
muscle control has returned. If an endotracheal tube (ET) or laryngeal mask
airway (LMA) was used, it will be removed as soon as you are breathing on your
own.
In some cases, to help speed emergence,
reversal agents are used to counteract, or reverse,
the effects of certain anesthetics. These agents may help reduce the time it
takes for you to recover from anesthesia.
Emergence does not mean you will have completely recovered from
all the effects of anesthesia. Some effects may persist for many hours after
anesthesia has ended. For example, you may have some numbness or reduced
sensation in the part of your body that was anesthetized until the anesthetic
wears off completely. Even if you feel alert and normal, your judgment and
reflexes may still be affected for some time after your procedure, especially
if you continue to take medicines, such as those to control pain or nausea. But
if you experience numbness or reduced sensation longer than expected, contact
your anesthesia specialist.
Risks and Complications
Although all types of
anesthesia
involve some
risk
, major side effects and complications from
anesthesia are uncommon. Your specific risks depend on your health, the type of
anesthesia used, and your response to anesthesia.
Personal risk factors
Your age may be a risk factor. In general, the risks associated
with anesthesia and surgery increase in older people.
Certain
medical conditions, such as heart, circulation, or
nervous system problems, increase your risk of complications from anesthesia.
Complications from local anesthesia
When used properly, local anesthetics are safe and have few major
side effects. But in high doses local anesthetics can have toxic effects caused
by being absorbed through the bloodstream into the rest of the body (systemic
toxicity). This may significantly affect your breathing, heartbeat, blood
pressure, and other body functions. Because of these potential toxic effects,
equipment for emergency care must be immediately available when local
anesthetics are used.
Complications from regional anesthesia
For regional anesthesia, an anesthetic is injected close to a
nerve, a bundle of nerves, or the spinal cord. In rare cases, nerve damage can
cause persistent numbness, weakness, or pain.
Regional anesthesia (regional nerve blocks, epidural and
spinal anesthesia
) also carries the risk of systemic
toxicity if the anesthetic is absorbed through the bloodstream into the body.
Other complications include heart or lung problems, and infection, swelling, or
bruising (hematoma) at the injection site.
Spinal anesthesia medicine is injected into the fluid that
surrounds the spinal cord (
cerebrospinal fluid
). The most common
complication of spinal anesthesia is a headache caused by leaking of this
fluid. With current techniques of giving spinal anesthesia, this occurs in
about 1% to 2% of all people who have spinal anesthesia and is more common in
younger people. A spinal headache may be treated quickly with a blood patch to
prevent further complications. A blood patch involves injecting a small amount
of the person's own blood into the area where the leak is most likely occurring
to seal the hole and to increase pressure in the spinal canal and relieve the
pull on the membranes surrounding the canal.
Complications from general anesthesia
Serious side effects of general anesthesia are uncommon in people
who are otherwise healthy. But because general anesthesia affects the whole
body, it is more likely to cause side effects than local or regional
anesthesia. Fortunately, most side effects of general anesthesia are minor and
can be easily managed.
General anesthesia suppresses the normal throat reflexes that
prevent aspiration, such as swallowing, coughing, or gagging. Aspiration occurs
when an object or liquid is inhaled into the respiratory tract (the windpipe or
the lungs). To help prevent aspiration, an
endotracheal (ET) tube
may be inserted during general
anesthesia. When an ET tube is in place, the lungs are protected so stomach
contents cannot enter the lungs. Aspiration during anesthesia and surgery is
very uncommon. To reduce this risk, people are usually instructed not to eat or
drink anything for a specific number of hours before anesthesia so that the
stomach is empty. Anesthesia specialists use many safety measures to minimize
the risk of aspiration.
Insertion or removal of airways may cause respiratory problems
such as coughing; gagging; or muscle spasms in the voice box, or
larynx
(laryngospasm), or in the bronchial tubes in
the lungs (bronchospasm). Insertion of airways also may cause an increase in
blood pressure (hypertension) and heart rate (tachycardia). Other complications
may include damage to teeth and lips, swelling in the larynx, sore throat, and
hoarseness caused by injury or irritation of the larynx.
Other serious risks of general anesthesia include changes in
blood pressure or heart rate or rhythm, heart attack, or
stroke
. Death or serious illness or injury due solely
to anesthesia is rare and is usually also related to complications from the
surgery. Death occurs in about 1 in 250,000 people receiving general
anesthesia, although risks are greater for those people with serious medical
conditions.
1
Some people who are going to have general anesthesia express
concern that they will not be completely unconscious but will "wake up" and
have some awareness during the surgical procedure. But
awareness during general anesthesia is very rare
because anesthesia specialists devote careful attention and use many methods to
prevent this.
Risks from reactions to anesthetic medicines
Some anesthetic medicines may cause
allergic
or other abnormal reactions in some people,
but these are rare. If you suspect you may have such a problem, you should tell
both your surgeon and anesthesia specialist well before your surgery. Testing
will then be arranged as necessary.
A rare, potentially fatal condition called
malignant hyperthermia (MH) may be triggered by some
anesthetics. The anesthetics most commonly associated with malignant
hyperthermia include the potent
inhalation anesthetics and the muscle relaxant
succinylcholine. For more information, see the listing for the Malignant
Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) in the Other Places to
Get Help section of this topic.
Recovering From Anesthesia
Recovery from
anesthesia
occurs as the effects of the anesthetic
medicines wear off and your body functions begin to return. Immediately after
surgery, you will be taken to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), often called
the recovery room, where nurses will care for and observe you. A nurse will
check your vital signs and bandages and ask about your pain level.
How quickly you recover from anesthesia depends on the type of
anesthesia you received, your response to the anesthesia, and whether you
received other medicines that may prolong your recovery. As you begin to awaken
from general anesthesia, you may experience some confusion, disorientation, or
difficulty thinking clearly. This is normal. It may take some time before the
effects of the anesthesia are completely gone.
Your age and general health also may affect how quickly you
recover. Younger people usually recover more quickly from the effects of
anesthesia than older people. People with certain medical conditions may have
difficulty clearing anesthetics from the body, which can delay recovery.
After anesthesia
Some of the effects of anesthesia may persist for many hours
after the procedure. For example, you may have some numbness or reduced
sensation in the part of your body that was anesthetized until the anesthetic
wears off completely. Your muscle control and coordination may also be affected
for many hours following your procedure. Other effects may include:
-
Pain. As the
anesthesia wears off, you can expect to feel some pain and discomfort from your
surgery. In some cases, additional doses of local or regional anesthesia are
given to block pain during initial recovery. Pain following surgery can cause
restlessness as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure. If you
experience pain during your recovery, tell the nurse who is monitoring you so
that your pain can be relieved.
-
Nausea and vomiting. You may experience a dry mouth and/or nausea. Nausea and
vomiting are common after any type of anesthesia. It is a common cause of an
unplanned overnight hospital stay and delayed discharge. Vomiting may be a
serious problem if it causes pain and stress or affects surgical incisions.
Nausea and vomiting are more likely with general anesthesia and lengthy
procedures, such as surgery on the abdomen, the middle ear, or the eyes. In
most cases, nausea after anesthesia does not last long and can be treated with
medicines called antiemetics.
-
Low body temperature (hypothermia). You may feel cold and shiver when you are waking up. A
mild drop in body temperature is common during general anesthesia because the
anesthetic reduces your body's heat production and affects the way your body
regulates its temperature. Special measures are often taken during surgery to
keep a person’s body temperature from dropping too much (hypothermia).
Leaving the recovery area
When your normal body functions have returned, you either will be
transferred to another location in the hospital to complete your recovery or
allowed to go home.
In many cases minor surgical procedures are done on an outpatient
basis, which means you will go home the same day. Before you are discharged
from an outpatient clinic, you should be alert and able to understand and
remember instructions. You will also want to make sure you have regained muscle
control and coordination enough to walk safely, take fluids without vomiting,
and take oral pain medicines safely. Depending on your medical history, your
surgeon may also want you to be able to urinate before you are
discharged.
When you are discharged, make sure you have:
- Reliable transportation to your home and for
return to the hospital if complications develop. Do not plan to drive yourself
home.
- A competent adult caregiver who can be with you for 24 hours
after discharge.
- Access to a telephone so you can call for
assistance if complications develop.
- Access to a pharmacy so you
can obtain prescriptions.
If you are not ready to go home, you will be transferred to
another area in the hospital to complete your recovery. The length of your stay
will depend on your response to your surgery.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
|
American Society of Anesthesiologists
(ASA)
|
| 520 N. Northwest Highway |
| Park Ridge, IL 60068-2573 |
| Phone: |
(847) 825-5586 |
| Fax: |
(847) 825-1692 |
| E-mail: |
mail@asahq.org |
| Web Address: |
www.asahq.org |
| |
|
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational,
research, and scientific association of physicians organized to raise and
maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and to improve
patient care. The ASA Web site offers educational materials for the general
public.
|
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|
Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States
(MHAUS)
|
| 11 East State Street |
| P.O. Box 1069 |
| Sherburne, NY 13460 |
| Phone: |
(607) 674-7901 |
| Fax: |
(607) 674-7910 |
| E-mail: |
info@mhaus.org |
| Web Address: |
www.mhaus.org |
| |
|
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS)
is dedicated to reducing illness and death from malignant hyperthermia (MH) by
improving medical care related to MH, providing support information for
patients and medical professionals, and improving scientific understanding and
research related to MH. The MHAUS Web site offers educational materials for the
general public.
|
|
References
Citations
-
American Society of Anesthesiologists (2004). Patient education. Available online: http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation.htm.
Other Works Consulted
-
Miller RD (2006). Anesthesia. In GM Doherty, LW Way,
eds., Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment, 12th
ed., pp. 170–181. New York: McGraw-Hill.
-
Miller RD, et al. (2005). Anesthesia, 6th ed. San Francisco: Churchill
Livingstone.
-
Simon HB (2006). Hyperthermia, fever, and fever of
undetermined origin. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 7, chap. 24. New York: WebMD.
Credits
|
Author
|
Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
|
Editor
|
Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
|
Associate Editor
|
Pat Truman, MATC |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
John M. Freedman, MD - Anesthesiology |
|
Last Updated
|
February 4, 2008 |
