Anesthesia

Understanding anesthesia

Anesthesia allows patients to undergo surgery without feeling pain. The type of anesthesia used during your surgery depends on a number of factors, including the type of procedure you have, your age and your general health. Your personal preferences also are important. Types of anesthesia include the following.

Types of anesthesia

• Local anesthesia, which numbs only a part of your body and only for a short period of time.
• MAC (monitored anesthesia care), which involves using a local anesthesia with intravenous sedatives. You will be monitored by an anesthesia professional the entire time. 
• Regional anesthesia, which numbs a larger portion of your body – for example, the lower part of your body – for a few hours. It usually is given with sedation medicine to calm you. You will not be completely asleep, but you may not remember the procedure.
• General anesthesia, which puts you to sleep for the entire operation. You will not be able to feel any pain.

Be sure to tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist about any allergies you may have and any medicines you are taking, including anticoagulation medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements.