When is general anesthesia used, and is it safe? Show General anesthesia is very safe. Even if you have significant health problems, you will most likely tolerate general anesthesia without serious problems. But with any medication or medical procedure, you may experience some side effects. Here’s what to expect. Most side effects of general anesthesia occur immediately after your operation and don’t last long. Once surgery is done and anesthesia medications are stopped, you’ll slowly wake up in the operating room or recovery room. You’ll probably feel groggy and a bit confused. You may also feel any of these common side effects:
Most people won’t experience any long-term side effects. However, older adults are more likely to experience side effects that last more than a couple of days. This may include:
Some research suggests that people over age 60 may be more likely to develop POCD. You may also be more likely to develop POCD if you have:
For the most part, general anesthesia is very safe. It’s the surgical procedure itself that puts you at risk. But older people and those having long procedures are most at risk of side effects and bad outcomes. If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor because these conditions can affect how well you do during and after surgery:
You should also let your doctor know if you:
Very rarely, people may be aware of what’s going on during surgery. Some experts estimate that about 1 out of every 1,000 people regain consciousness but remain unable to move, talk, or otherwise alert their doctor. Other sources report it being even more rare, as infrequent as 1 out of 15,000 or 1 out of 23,000. When this happens, the person usually doesn’t feel any pain. However, operative awareness can be very distressing and may cause long-term psychological problems, similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. If you experience operative awareness under general anesthesia, you may find it beneficial to talk to a therapist or a counselor about your experience. If you need surgery, you probably don’t want to feel what’s going on. Depending on the type of surgery, this can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Your doctor will likely recommend general anesthesia if your procedure is going to:
General anesthesia is essentially a medically induced coma. Your doctor administers medication to make you unconsciousness so that you won’t move or feel any pain during the operation. Other procedures can be done with:
Your doctor will walk you through your individual options when planning for your procedure. They’ll be able to answer any questions you may have about what will be used and why. It’s important for you talk openly with your doctors about all your health information. Your anesthesiologist can safely manage your care and treat your side effects, but only if you’re honest. When you talk with your surgeon and anesthesiologist before the procedure, be sure to talk with them about your concerns and expectations. You should also discuss your:
Be sure to follow all of your presurgery instructions — including what you can or can’t eat and drink as well as medications you should or shouldn’t take. Following these instructions can help minimize some side effects of general anesthesia. What are the effects of premedication?Benzodiazepine premedication is frequently used to reduce anxiety but also causes amnesia, drowsiness, and cognitive impairment,2 which may be deleterious to some surgical patients.
What is the purpose of preoperative medication?Prior to an operation, patients experience a high degree of stress and internal tension. Preoperative drug administration (premedication) is intended to reduce these stresses through anxiolytic and sedative effects.
What are 3 reasons why patient may be pre medicated before a procedure?Other purposes of anesthetic premedication, as found in the literatures, are to: (1) prevent postoperative pain, (2) provide effective prophylaxis against PONV, (3) decrease perioperative shivering, (4) decrease postoperative pruritus, (5) decrease gastric secretions, (6) prevent allergic reactions, (7) suppress reflex ...
Does preoperative psychological status of patients affect postoperative pain a prospective study from the Caribbean?Conclusion: The presence of preoperative anxiety and depression as indicated by HADS score may significantly influence postoperative pain. Other factors such as educational level, presence of preoperative pain and surgical duration may also impact postoperative pain.
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