Are you scared of losing consciousness before surgery? Let's learn everything about anesthesia!

Have you ever had to undergo an operation , that is, surgery? Or are you going to have one soon? If so, it is normal to feel a little scared and nervous when you hear the words "anorexia." Many questions come to mind, such as "Will I regain consciousness?" and "I don't know what will happen." But in fact, medical science is very advanced these days. This anesthesia, or as we call it in medicine, is a very safe and necessary thing. So today, let's talk about it simply to eliminate all the fears and questions you have about it.

What exactly is anesthesia?

Simply put, anesthesia is a procedure that helps you not feel pain during surgery or other medical procedures. The drugs used for this are called anesthetics.

Think of it this way. When we get an injury somewhere in our body, a pain signal travels through the nerves to our brain. That's when we feel, "Oh, that hurts." What anesthetics do is temporarily block that signal from going to the brain. It's like temporarily cutting off your phone signal. Some anesthetics block signals in just a small part of your body. Other anesthetics block signals in your entire body and put you into a deep sleep. That way, the doctor can perform the surgery without any interruptions, and you can feel no pain.

What are the main types of anesthesia?

The type of anesthesia your doctor chooses will vary depending on the type of surgery you are having. Let's look at the main types. To make this easier to understand, I have created a table like this.

Who administers anesthesia?

If it's something as simple as numbing a small area, the surgeon can do it. But for major surgeries, there's a doctor who specializes in this. We call him an anesthesiologist .

This anesthesiologist may be accompanied by a team of doctors in training, such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who is specially trained in anesthesia.

How should we prepare before anesthesia?

This is very important. There are a few things you need to do on your part to ensure the surgery is successful and that there are no problems with the anesthesia.

• Tell your doctor about all the medications you take: Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take regularly, vitamins, nutritional supplements, Ayurvedic or Sinhala medicines. Some medications can interact with anesthetics.
• Fasting: You are usually told not to eat or drink anything for about 8 hours before surgery. This is because when you are unconscious, food in your stomach can come back up into your throat and into your lungs. This is a dangerous situation. This is to prevent it.
• Quit smoking: Quitting smoking at least one day before surgery is very good for your heart and lung health. If possible, quit two weeks in advance.
• Stopping certain medications: Your doctor may advise you to stop taking certain herbal remedies, as well as erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra®, 24 hours before surgery.
• Taking essential medications: Your doctor may tell you to take certain medications, such as those for high blood pressure, with a sip of water. Just do as he or she tells you .

What should we do after anesthesia?

You can usually return to work after a minor procedure, but if you had general or regional anesthesia, it will take a while for you to recover.

• Bring someone home with you: You can't drive a car alone, so bring someone to drive you home.
• Rest the day: Go home and rest well for the rest of the day.
• Do not do these things for 24 hours: Absolutely do not drive, operate machinery, or drink alcohol.
• Don't make important decisions: Don't make any important decisions, like signing legal documents or selling land, for 24 hours after anesthesia, because your brain hasn't fully recovered yet.

What are the possible side effects of anesthesia?

Most of the time, these side effects are temporary and go away within 24 hours.

What are the risks and complications of anesthesia?

Millions of people around the world, including Sri Lanka, undergo anesthesia every day in a very safe manner. However, as with any medical procedure, there are some very rare risks. It is important to be aware of these, and not to be afraid of them.

Anesthetic Awareness

This is a very rare occurrence (occurring in about 1 in 1,000 people who have general anesthesia). It is when you are aware of what is happening around you during surgery, but are unable to move your body or speak.

Collapsed Lung (Atelectasis)

This condition can occur when small air sacs in the lungs become blocked or fill with fluid when general anesthesia is used. This is also very rare.

Malignant Hyperthermia

This is a very rare condition that runs in families. In this case, the body reacts dangerously to anesthetic drugs. High fever and muscle contractions occur. If anyone in your family has an allergy to anesthesia or has had a similar condition, you should definitely tell the anesthesiologist before the surgery.

Nerve Damage

Very rarely, nerves can be damaged, causing temporary or permanent numbness and pain.

Postoperative Delirium

This condition is more common in older people. It can cause confusion and memory problems for a few days after surgery. This usually resolves within a week.

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after going home from anesthesia, seek medical advice immediately or go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).