Patient's Guide to Anesthesia
CAM has been committed to maintaining high standards of quality in anesthesia care over the years. This guide was created to help you better understand what happens during your surgery and to answer many questions about anesthesia.
Pre-Anesthesia Consultation
The pre-anesthesia consultation is conducted by the anesthesiologist before your surgery. It is similar to the consultation with the surgeon but focuses on the specific care the anesthesiologist will provide. During this consultation, the following will be evaluated:
- Allergies
- Medications you are taking that may interfere with anesthesia
- Diseases or health problems
- Blood and cardiological tests
- Physical examination
Additionally, the anesthesiologist will explain what you may feel and experience during the surgery, inform you about pre-anesthetic medications, and which medications should be used or discontinued before or on the day of surgery. Finally, the most appropriate anesthetic technique for your procedure will be determined.
CAM provides a document with the main information you should bring to the pre-anesthesia consultation. This document ensures you bring all the relevant information for the anesthesiologist.
Preoperative Fasting
Preoperative fasting is crucial to ensure that you do not have any stomach contents during surgery. During anesthesia, the loss of consciousness also results in the loss of protection of the respiratory region against vomiting or regurgitation. The presence of stomach contents can cause serious respiratory problems if aspirated.
The anesthesia team will provide individualized guidance on the fasting period, taking into account your health history. Respect the recommended fasting time, avoiding very prolonged periods.
As a general rule, fasting times for each food type are:
- 8 hours for solid foods;
- 6 hours for non-maternal milk or juices with pulp;
- 4 hours for breast milk;
- 2 hours for clear liquids without pulp;
Here we provide a calculator for fasting times for your surgery.
What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is the total absence of pain during an operation or examination. It can be:
- Sedation: Sedation is the use of medications for anxiety control, inducing slight drowsiness and sometimes amnesia. It can also be used in association with some types of regional anesthesia.
- General Anesthesia: Affects the entire body, leaving you completely unconscious.
- Regional Anesthesia: Affects only one region of the body, allowing you to be asleep or awake.
In all situations, the anesthesiologist will monitor your vital functions throughout the procedure to ensure your safety.
Duration of Anesthesia
The anesthesia lasts as long as necessary for the examination or operation and can provide pain control for a variable time after the procedure, depending on the techniques and medications used. It is normal to feel a little drowsy postoperatively due to the residual effect of anesthetic medications.
Who Administers Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is administered by physicians specialized in anesthesiology. They take care of you throughout the operation, monitoring your brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and other vital functions until you wake up completely. After surgery, you will remain in the anesthesia recovery room until you are in good clinical condition.
Functions of the Anesthesiologist
The anesthesiologist administers the anesthetic medications and techniques, and takes care of the functioning and balance of your body during surgery. This includes monitoring:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rhythm and rate
- Body temperature
- Blood oxygenation
- Respiration
The anesthesiologist also keeps the patient hydrated and performs blood transfusions, if necessary.
Post-Anesthesia Recovery Room
After surgery, the anesthesiologist stops the anesthetics and recovery of consciousness begins. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours. During this time, you will remain in the post-anesthesia recovery room, monitored by a qualified nursing team and the anesthesiologist, to prevent post-anesthetic complications.
How Will You Feel After Anesthesia?
How you feel after anesthesia depends on several factors, including the type of operation, the type of anesthesia, your physical condition, and the medications you are taking. Thanks to modern anesthesia techniques, only a small number of patients feel unwell. It is likely that you will not feel anything during the surgery and have few memories of what happened. All care will be taken to ensure your comfort and safety.
We hope this guide has clarified your doubts and helped you prepare for your surgery. If you have more questions, do not hesitate to ask your doctor or anesthesiologist.
