General Anesthesia Care
Your anesthesiologist is an essential part of your surgical team. He or she will meet with you before your surgery to talk about the type of anesthesia that will work best for you.
We will consider factors such as the specific surgery you’ll be having, your overall health, your drug allergies, other medications you are taking, and any reactions you may have had to previous anesthetics. In some cases your personal preferences can also play a role.
Anesthesia today is very safe. Your anesthesiologist will be at your side throughout your surgery, using advanced technology to monitor your organ systems and vital functions.
Types of Anesthesia
Local Anesthesia
This involves using medications that temporarily stop pain in a specific body area. The area remains numb during your procedure and for a short time afterward. Local anesthesia is usually given with an injection.
General Anesthesia
With this type of anesthesia, you’ll be unconscious during your surgery. The medication is either given through an intravenous (IV) line or inhaled through a breathing mask or tube.
Regional Anesthesia
With this option, your anesthesiologist injects a local anesthetic into the area of nerves that serves a particular body area. For example, a spinal anesthetic uses a dose of anesthetic medicine injected into the area around the spinal cord (the epidural space) in the lower back. This is used to numb the lower body, often for orthopedic procedures. And an epidural uses a catheter to provide a continuous infusion of anesthetic medicine into the epidural space, with the location determined by the area to be numbed. Epidural anesthesia is often used during childbirth.
Conscious Sedation
This is a combination of medicines that help you relax and block pain during minor outpatient procedures. You may fall asleep but will easily wake up to respond to questions or instructions. Conscious sedation is usually administered by a provider who is not an anesthesiologist.
