General Anesthesia

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is Anesthesia? Anesthesia (an-iss-thee-zuh) is medicine to make you comfortable during surgery or a procedure. There are many types of anesthesia. The anesthesia medicine may be given in your IV, through a face mask, or through a tube in your nose or throat. It can also be given as a shot in your back or as a shot in the area where you will have surgery. The type of anesthesia you may have depends on the type of surgery or procedure you are having. You and your caregiver have decided that general anesthesia is best for you.

What is General Anesthesia? With general anesthesia you are completely asleep during surgery. General anesthesia can be used for most kinds of surgeries or procedures. It is very important to tell caregivers before surgery if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Tell your anesthesia caregiver if you or anyone in your family has ever had any problems with anesthesia. Remember to tell your anesthesia caregiver if you have ever had a very high temperature during or after surgery.

Care: Before the surgery or procedure, you may be given medicine in your IV to make you feel sleepy and more relaxed. Caregivers help you get comfortable on the operating room bed.

• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells how much oxygen is in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your ear, finger, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Caregivers use this machine to see if you need more oxygen.
  
  
• Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.
  
  
• Getting General Anesthesia: The medicine to keep you completely asleep during surgery may be given as a liquid in your IV. It may be given as a gas through a face mask, endotracheal (end-o-tra-kee-ull) tube, or a laryngeal (luh-rin-g-ull) mask airway.
  
  
  • The endotracheal (end-o-tra-kee-ull) or "ET tube" is put into your mouth or nose and down your throat. The ET tube helps protect your windpipe and lungs during surgery. The laryngeal mask is also known as "LMA". This is a tube with a small mask on the end that is filled with air. The mask fits into the back of your throat instead of down your wind pipe. The ET and the LMA allow you to breathe in oxygen or anesthesia gas during surgery.
    
    
  • Usually you are asleep before caregivers put the tube into your throat. The ET tube is usually removed before you wake up.
  
  
• After Getting The Anesthesia: After surgery, you are taken to a room where you can rest until you are fully awake. You may then be allowed to go home. If you are staying in the hospital your are taken back to your room. When it is time for you to go home, someone should drive you home. Do not drive home alone. An adult should stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery if you had general anesthesia.

Informed Consent:

• You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your caregiver should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. This consent also gives permission for anesthesia. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.
  
  

Risks: The following are risks that may happen with with general anesthesia. Caregivers will watch you closely and treat any problems. Some surgeries cannot be done at all if you choose not to have anesthesia. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care. The following are some of the risks with general anesthesia.

• You could have a bad reaction to the medicine.
  
  
• You could feel sick to your stomach after surgery.
  
  
• It may take awhile for the medicine to wear off.
  
  
• You may have a sore throat after general anesthesia. Ask your caregiver about using throat lozenges or gargle with warm salt water. The sore throat is usually gone in 1 to 2 days.
  
  
• You could have a seizure or heart attack.
  
  
• Your temperature could go very high and you might die.
  
  
• Your thinking may be unclear. Do not make important decisions for 24 hours after having general anesthesia.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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