Are you afraid of anesthesia before an operation? (General Anesthesia) Let's talk about this!

Have you or someone you know ever had to undergo an operation ? One of the biggest fears that many people have at such a time is about “being put under anesthesia.” It’s normal to get a little nervous when you hear the word “being put out of consciousness.” But it’s actually a very advanced, safe medical procedure. So today, let’s clear up all the questions you have about this complete anesthesia, or ‘ General Anesthesia ’.

Simply put, what is general anesthesia?

General anesthesia is when you are put into a state similar to a deep sleep before major surgery. In this state, your body does not feel any pain, and you will not remember anything else during the surgery . It is as if you had just woken up from a deep sleep.

This is done by an anesthesiologist. This doctor sits next to you from the moment the surgery begins until it is finished, monitoring every movement of your body ( breathing , heartbeat , etc.), keeping you safely asleep, and waking you up again when the surgery is over.

Let's understand the difference between types of anesthesia.

In addition to general anesthesia, there are other anesthesia methods. It is very important to know the difference between these.

How does anesthesia work during surgery?

Imagine you are in the operating theatre. What happens next?

1. Administering the medication: First, the anesthesiologist will insert a cannula (IV line), which is a tube that puts saline into a vein in your arm, and give you the anesthetic medication through it. Sometimes you will also be given a gas to breathe through a mask. This will put you to sleep within a few minutes.

2. Insertion of the breathing tube: After you are completely asleep, the doctor will give you medicine to relax the muscles in your throat and insert a tube through your mouth into your windpipe. This is to ensure that you continue to receive the amount of oxygen you need throughout the surgery. You will not even feel it being inserted because you are asleep.

3. Constant monitoring: Throughout the surgery, the anesthesia team will be watching your body closely for the following:

• Breathing
• Body temperature
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Blood oxygen level
• Body fluid level

Based on these measurements, they will adjust the amount of medication you are given, give you extra saline, or even give you blood if necessary.

4. Re-awakening: When the surgery is over, the doctor will stop giving you the anesthetic. Then you will be taken to the recovery room. There you will slowly start to wake up. The doctors and nurses will carefully check you for pain and any other discomfort.

What medications are used for this?

Both intravenous (IV) and inhaled medications are used for general anesthesia. Usually, both types are used together.

Main drugs given intravenously (IV Drugs):

• Propofol: This is the most commonly used drug. It puts you into a deep sleep and helps keep you in that state throughout the surgery.
• Ketamine: Can be used alone for short surgeries. Also acts as a pain reliever.
• Etomidate: This is a very short-acting drug. It is mainly used to induce anesthesia.

Inhaled Drugs:

• Sevoflurane: A commonly used anesthetic gas. It is used to initiate and maintain anesthesia.
• Isoflurane: It is less commonly used now because it has a strong odor.
• Desflurane: Used to maintain anesthesia.
• Nitrous oxide: Also called “laughing gas.” Since it is not very potent, it is not used alone. It is given in combination with other potent drugs.

How do you prepare before anesthesia?

Before your surgery, both the doctor who is performing your surgery and the anesthesiologist will talk to you. The anesthesiologist will definitely ask you these questions:

• What other medical conditions do you have? (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease)
• What types of medications do you use? (everything including prescription drugs, vitamins, Ayurvedic medicines)
• Do you have any allergies? (medicines, eggs, soy, etc.)
• Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? Do you use other drugs?
• Have you had an adverse reaction to anesthesia during a previous surgery?

In addition, your doctor will advise you to avoid eating or drinking anything other than food and water for about 8 hours before surgery. This is because the muscles relax during anesthesia, which can cause food in your stomach to pass into your lungs. This is a dangerous situation. You may also be asked to stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin, that increase bleeding, about a week before surgery.

Are there any side effects after anesthesia?

It is normal to feel a little sleepy after waking up from anesthesia. Apart from that, you may experience minor side effects like these, but these will go away after a while.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat or hoarseness (due to the breathing tube)
• Drowsiness
• Body tremors
• Muscle pain
• Itching
• Temporary memory problems or confusion (especially in the elderly) – This condition (delirium) usually resolves completely within a week.

What are the risks of anesthesia?

For a healthy person, general anesthesia is very safe . However, some people are at a slightly higher risk of complications. Let's see who they are.

• People with obesity
• Elderly people
• People with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and kidney disease
• People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• People who smoke
• People taking blood thinners like aspirin
• People who are allergic to anesthetic drugs

People who drink alcohol should be especially careful. Drinking alcohol daily can change the dosage of anesthesia, prolong recovery time after surgery, and increase the risk of infection. So be honest with your doctor about this.

Very rarely , about one in a thousand people, can a person remain conscious while under anesthesia (Anesthesia Awareness). Thanks to modern monitoring equipment, the chances of this happening are now much lower.

Anesthesia, General Anesthesia, Surgery, Operation, Surgery, Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiologist