General Anesthesia

What is General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is the use of medicines to make a person “go to sleep” (unconscious) for a medical procedure. General anesthesia must be used for certain procedures, and is often recommended for procedures that:

• Last a long time.
• Require you to be still or in an unusual position.
• Are major and can cause blood loss.

The medicines used for general anesthesia are called general anesthetics. As well as making you unconscious for a certain amount of time, these medicines:

• Prevent pain.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Relax your muscles.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Types of anesthetics you have had in the past.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Any recent upper respiratory, chest, or ear infections.
• Any history of:
  • Heart or lung conditions, such as heart failure, sleep apnea, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Military service.
  • Depression or anxiety.
• Any tobacco or drug use, including marijuana or alcohol use.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Allergic reaction.
• Lung and heart problems.
• Inhaling food or liquid from the stomach into the lungs (aspiration).
• Nerve injury.
• Air in the bloodstream, which can lead to stroke.
• Extreme agitation or confusion (delirium) when you wake up from the anesthetic.
• Waking up during your procedure and being unable to move. This is rare.

These problems are more likely to develop if you are having a major surgery or if you have an advanced or serious medical condition. You can prevent some of these complications by answering all of your health care provider’s questions thoroughly and by following all instructions before your procedure.

General anesthesia can cause side effects, including:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• A sore throat from the breathing tube.
• Hoarseness.
• Wheezing or coughing.
• Shaking chills.
• Tiredness.
• Body aches.
• Anxiety.
• Sleepiness or drowsiness.
• Confusion or agitation.

What happens before the procedure?

Staying hydrated

Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:

• Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.

Eating and drinking restrictions

Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:

• 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
• 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
• 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
• 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.

Medicines

Ask your health care provider about:

• Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
• Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
• Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Do nottake these during the week before your procedure unless your health care provider approves them.

General instructions

• Starting 3–6 weeks before the procedure, do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• If you brush your teeth on the morning of the procedure, make sure to spit out all of the toothpaste.
• Tell your health care provider if you become ill or develop a cold, cough, or fever.
• If instructed by your health care provider, bring your sleep apnea device with you on the day of your surgery (if applicable).
• Ask your health care provider if you will be going home the same day, the following day, or after a longer hospital stay.
  • Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
  • Plan to have a responsible adult care for you for at least 24 hours after you leave the hospital or clinic. This is important.

What happens during the procedure?

• You will be given anesthetics through both of the following:
  • A mask placed over your nose and mouth.
  • An IV in one of your veins.
• You may receive a medicine to help you relax (sedative).
• After you are unconscious, a breathing tube may be inserted down your throat to help you breathe. This will be removed before you wake up.
• An anesthesia specialist will stay with you throughout your procedure. He or she will:
  • Keep you comfortable and safe by continuing to give you medicines and adjusting the amount of medicine that you get.
  • Monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels to make sure that the anesthetics do not cause any problems.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
• You will wake up in a recovery area. You may wake up slowly.
• If you feel anxious or agitated, you may be given medicine to help you calm down.
• If you will be going home the same day, your health care provider may check to make sure you can walk, drink, and urinate.
• Your health care provider will treat any pain or side effects you have before you go home.
• Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a sedative.

Summary

• General anesthesia is used to keep you still and prevent pain during a procedure.
• It is important to tell your healthcare provider about your medical history and any surgeries you have had, and previous experience with anesthesia.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about when to stop eating, drinking, or taking certain medicines before your procedure.
• Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.

Care After General Anesthesia

This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, the following side effects are common:

• Pain or discomfort at the IV site.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Sore throat.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Feeling cold or chills.
• Weak or tired.
• Sleepiness and fatigue.
• Soreness and body aches. These side effects can affect parts of the body that were not involved in surgery.

Follow these instructions at home:

For at least 24 hours after the procedure:

• Have a responsible adult stay with you. It is important to have someone help care for you until you are awake and alert.
• Rest as needed.
• Do not:
  • Participate in activities in which you could fall or become injured.
  • Drive.
  • Use heavy machinery.
  • Drink alcohol.
  • Take sleeping pills or medicines that cause drowsiness.
  • Make important decisions or sign legal documents.
  • Take care of children on your own.

Eating and drinking

• Follow any instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• When you feel hungry, start by eating small amounts of foods that are soft and easy to digest (bland), such as toast. Gradually return to your regular diet.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• If you vomit, rehydrate by drinking water, juice, or clear broth.

General instructions

• If you have sleep apnea, surgery and certain medicines can increase your risk for breathing problems. Follow instructions from your health care provider about wearing your sleep device:
  • Anytime you are sleeping, including during daytime naps.
  • While taking prescription pain medicines, sleeping medicines, or medicines that make you drowsy.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If you smoke, do notsmoke without supervision.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have nausea or vomiting that does not get better with medicine.
• You cannot eat or drink without vomiting.
• You have pain that does not get better with medicine.
• You are unable to pass urine.
• You develop a skin rash.
• You have a fever.
• You have redness around your IV site that gets worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have difficulty breathing.
• You have chest pain.
• You have blood in your urine or stool, or you vomit blood.

Summary

• After the procedure, it is common to have a sore throat or nausea. It is also common to feel tired.
• Have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24 hours after general anesthesia. It is important to have someone help care for you until you are awake and alert.
• When you feel hungry, start by eating small amounts of foods that are soft and easy to digest (bland), such as toast. Gradually return to your regular diet.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.