General information for patients undergoing anesthesia for surgery

Northern California Anesthesia Associates performs anesthesia for thousands of patients every year. The type of anesthesia a patient receives depends on both the surgical procedure and also the patient medical history. The three main categories of anesthesia include a general anesthetic, a regional anesthetic, and monitored anesthesia care (sedation).

In a general anesthetic, a patient is rendered completely asleep. In adults, the anesthesia is first delivered usually either with medication through an intravenous (IV) catheter or sometimes with an anesthetic gas through a mask. There are many different types of anesthetic agents. The type of agent that is used is individualized according to the patient’s medical history and surgery. After the patient is asleep, a breathing tube may be placed to maintain and protect the patient’s airway. The anesthesia (sleeping state) is maintained with an anesthetic gas, intravenous medication, or a combination of the two. The anesthesiologist precisely measures and delivers the anesthetic agents being given and monitors the patient throughout the surgery. For most types of patients and surgeries (with some exceptions) the breathing tube can usually be removed almost immediately after completion of surgery. The patient is then transported to the post anesthesia care unit where he/she is continuously monitored and managed until medically stable.

A regional anesthetic describes a wide range of anesthesia techniques where only a specific part of the body is anesthetized with the injection of a local anesthetic. The most commonly used types of regional anesthesia techniques include epidural and spinal anesthesia. The type of technique used depends on both the type of surgery and a patient’s medical history.

Monitored anesthesia care is used to describe “light” anesthesia, where the patient experiences anywhere from a relaxed but awake state to a deeper, but arousable sleep. Usually, local anesthetic to the surgical site is also employed so that the patient is comfortable throughout the procedure.

Whatever the type of anesthesia given, one of our anesthesiologists will be caring for the patient for the entire duration of the surgery in order to deliver anesthesia, to monitor and stabilize a patient’s vital signs as needed, and to make sure that the patient is as safe as possible.