Redding Anesthesia Associates Medical Group
Therapeutic Pain Management Medical Clinic

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 General Anesthesia FAQs

Please note that the following guidelines apply to most patients having surgery, but not all of the patients. These are general guidelines only. Specific conditions may require specific needs. Please contact the pre-op nurse or anesthesiologist if you have any questions.

General Anesthesia is a type of anesthesia where you are put in deep sleep. It is the most common type of anesthesia. It is also known as "being put under", "put to sleep", and "completely out".

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Yes. During the delivery of a general anesthetic the patient is rendered unconscious by various medications that depress the central nervous system thus making them insensible to painful surgical stimulation and depressing the bodies vital reflexes. This is in contrast to other types of anesthetics where the patient may be only sedated and can be aroused during the course of the surgery if necessary, this is often referred to as sedation.

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The risk of serious life-threatening complications from an anesthetic varies depending the patients co-existing medical conditions as well as the type of surgery proposed. Those patients with more serious medical conditions or undergoing more complicated surgical procedures would certainly be at higher risk than a completely healthy patient undergoing a minor procedure.

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Yes. The anesthetics that render the patient unconscious also inhibit the patient from breathing adequately. The anesthesiologist must assist the patients breathing during the course of the surgery. This is most often accomplished by placing a small breathing tube (endotracheal tube or Laryngeal Mask Airway -LMA) into the patients windpipe (trachea) after the patient is anesthetized. The endotracheal tube or LMA is most often removed while the patient is waking up and therefore most patients do not have any recollection of this event. Certain short procedures not involving surgery in the abdomen or chest may be performed without the use of an endotracheal tube. In these situations, breathing is supported by other means for the short duration of the surgery.

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Minor side effects from general anesthesia and surgery are common. These include nausea, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, or a generalized "hang-over" type feeling. Fortunately these are most often not serious and resolve on their own in hours or a few days after surgery. Rarely these side effects are severe enough to require specific treatment or possibly further hospitalization.

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Yes. Because of the possibility for rapid changes in the anesthetized patient a qualified anesthesiologist will be continuously present to monitor the patient and provide anesthesia care.

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Yes. The intravenous line is the means by which the anesthesiologist can deliver medications and fluids necessary to safely perform the anesthetic. Post-operatively the I.V. line is maintained to continue fluids and delivery pain medications as necessary. Some children having very minor surgery may not need I.V. .

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No. Even though many patients will feel quite awake and unaffected by the anesthetics after the surgery, the bodies reflexes will continue to be influenced for a minimum or 24 hours. Therefore it is mandatory the patient not drive or operate heavy machinery for a minimum of 24 hours.

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Send mail to Shishir A. Dhruva, MD with questions or comments about this web site.
 Send mail to Shishir A. Dhruva, MD with questions or comments about this web site.
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 No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without the written consent from Shishir A. Dhruva, MD
Last Updated: Saturday, February 14, 2009