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Anesthesia
Local Anesthesia • Nitrous Oxide • Oral Pre-Medication • Intravenous Sedation • General Anesthesia
You will always be given local anesthesia for your surgery, but you may also choose any of the supplemental forms of anesthesia listed below. Each choice requires different preparation on your part, and for your safety it is important that you read and follow the instructions carefully. If you are unclear about anything, please ask your doctor.
For all surgery, please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Tops/shirts should have sleeves that are easily drawn up above the elbow. Females should remove nail polish and jewelry before surgery, and apply as little makeup as possible.
LOCAL ANESTHESIA will produce a numb feeling in the area being operated on and a feeling of pressure during surgery. You will be awake and recall the surgery if this is the only anesthesia used, but there should be no significant discomfort. This is the safest form of anesthesia.
- Have a light meal a few hours prior to surgery, unless you are also having intravenous or general anesthesia.
- For more extensive procedures you may wish to have someone drive you home.
- Plan to rest for a few hours after surgery.
NITROUS OXIDE is also known as “laughing gas.” You will be relaxed and somewhat less aware of your surroundings, but will recall most of the surgical event. Nitrous oxide may also be used to supplement the one of the other anesthetics.
- Have only a light meal a several hours prior to surgery unless you are also having intravenous or general anesthesia.
- It is best to have someone drive you home but is not necessary unless you are combining this with other anesthetics
- Plan to rest for the remainder of the day.
ORAL PREMEDICATION: This type of anesthesia may be used as a supplement to local anesthesia and consists of medication taken by mouth to produce relaxation before and during your operation.
- Take the medication at the time directed before your surgery.
- Have only a light meal a several hours prior to surgery.
- It is not safe to drive after taking sedative drugs, and you MUST have someone drive you to and from surgery.
- Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Do not operate power tools, machinery, etc., for 24 hours after surgery.
INTRAVENOUS SEDATION: Medications are given through a vein in your arm or hand, which will cause relaxation and a state of semiconsciousness or unconsciousness, there will be very little recall (if any) of the events surrounding surgery.
- Do not eat or drink anything (including water) for six (6) hours prior to surgery. However, it may be important that you take some or all of your regular medications (high blood pressure, antibiotics, etc.) or any pre-medication prescription that we have provided, using only a small sip of water. Talk to your doctor about continuing or holding medicines on the day of surgery.
- Take any medications with only enough water to get the pill down if you are told to take them on the day of the surgery.
- You MUST have someone drive you home.
- Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Do not operate power tools, machinery, etc., for 24 hours after surgery.
- Someone MUST watch you for at least eight hours after you leave for home and be prepared to watch you for up to 24 hours.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA: Medications are given through a vein and/or gases via a mask which will result in total loss of consciousness, complete lack of recall of the event and usually a longer recovery time. A tube may be placed into your airway via your nose or mouth and an anesthesia machine may be used to give you breaths. This is the deepest form of anesthesia and carries the highest risk. This is the most common form of anesthesia used for in-hospital procedures. General anesthesia has an excellent safety record as an office procedure, but may, if desired, be provided in a hospital setting. (Your health insurance may not cover you unless there is a bona fide medical reason for hospitalization.)
The same instructions offered above for intravenous sedation apply for general anesthesia.
Our goal is to provide you with a safe, pleasant and effective anesthetic. In order to do this it is imperative that we have your full cooperation. Please feel free to ask or call about any questions concerning your surgery or anesthetic.
To preview Pre-Operative Instructions, Consent and Post-Operative Instructions along with the scheduled visits, see “Doc’s Orders; Anesthesia”.