Local Anesthesia

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 local anesthesia is best for you.

What is Local Anesthesia?

Local anesthesia is medicine given to numb the surgery area. Tell caregivers if you are allergic to any numbing medicine, such as Novocain or lidocaine. You might have local anesthesia for biopsies, dental care, and other tests or minor surgeries and procedures. Tell your anesthesia caregiver if you or anyone in your family has ever had any problems with anesthesia.

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. Anesthesia caregivers use machines to see how your body is doing.

• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Never turn the pulse oximeter or alarm off. An alarm will sound if your oxygen level is low or cannot be read.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.
  
  
• Getting Local Anesthesia: A shot of medicine is put in the skin over the surgery area to make the area numb. The medicine can sometimes be given as an ointment or spray. You should not feel pain but you may still feel pressure. Tell caregivers if you feel pain so more medicine can be put into the area. During local anesthesia, you may be given medicine in your IV to make you feel sleepy and more relaxed. The 2 types of sedation (seh-day-shun) depend on how much and what type of medicines you are given.
  
  
  • Conscious (kon-shus) sedation is when you are sleepy, but wake up to light touch or talking. You feel more relaxed and less nervous and you can breathe and swallow by yourself.
    
    
  • Deep sedation is when you are asleep but can wake up if needed. Caregivers may need to help you breathe if you are not doing it completely on your own.
  
  
• After Getting The Anesthesia: After the surgery or procedure, you may go home if you were not given any sedation. If you received sedation, you are taken to an area where you can rest until you are fully awake. You are taken back to your room if you are staying in the hospital.

Informed Consent:

You have the right to understand your health condition in words you 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 local anesthesia. Caregivers will watch you closely and treat any problems. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care.

• You could have a bad reaction to the medicine.
  
  
• You may feel some pain even with the local anesthesia. You may need to be given general anesthesia to make you go completely to sleep during the surgery.
  
  
• It may take awhile for the medicine to wear off.
  
  
• Your thinking may be unclear from sedative medications. Do not make important decisions for 24 hours after having anesthesia.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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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.