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General anesthesia

General anesthesia leads to a state of controlled unconsciousness. Doctors use general anesthesia through medicines to send you to sleep so you can be unaware of the surgery and not feel any pain in the process. It is only for surgical procedures where the doctors think it is more comfortable and safer for you to be unconscious. If not for general anesthesia, one might feel uncomfortable or severe pain in a lengthy operation. The anesthetics can help to stop the nerves from passing signals to the brain, so you don’t have to feel the pain of the surgery.

Types of anesthetics

The anesthetic depends on the procedures, and there are other types than general anesthesia; they include:

  • Local anesthetic
  • Epidural anesthetic
  • Spinal anesthetic
  • Nerve block

General anesthesia process

Before surgery, an anesthesiologist will discuss and decide the suitable anesthetic and:

  • I will explain the risks of the anesthesia
  • Agree on the plans with you for the anesthesia and pain control post-surgery

An anesthesiologist will review your entire medical history and conditions regarding your immediate family members and their problems with anesthesia. They will also ensure you ask you specific questions about your lifestyle, including:

  • Allergies
  • Smoking or drinking habit
  • The medications that you are under
General anesthesia process

The anesthesiologist will answer any sort of questions that you have regarding the process, and you can let them know that you are unsure about any part of the procedure. They provide clear instructions before surgery, including the amount of water or food to consume

General anesthesia side effects

The general anesthetic may have some potential side effects, which an anesthesiologist will discuss with you before the operation. Often, the side effects happen immediately after the surgery and will not last long. The possible side effects are:

  • Sickness (might happen immediately, and most people feel sick for up to a day)
  • Feeling cold and shivering (might last for a few minutes to a few hours)
  • Memory loss or confusion (more common among the elderly or people with existing memory problems; the impact is temporary but can last a bit long)
  • Bladder problems
  • Dizziness
  • Soreness or sore throat and bruising

Mouth or teeth damage (some people might have small cuts on their lips or tongue, and some might experience damage to their teeth. So it’s better to indicate the anesthesiologist regarding any dental work you had recently)

Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022