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anesthesia quick
glossary
what is anesthesia?
who administers anesthesia?
who gets what type
of anesthesia?
local anesthesia:
topical, cold, cream
local anesthesia:
injection, tumescent, ring block, regional block
IV sedation / monitored
anesthesia care
general anesthesia
stages of general
anesthesia
preparing for anesthesia
anesthesia and herbal
drug interactions
anesthesia and prescription
drug interactions
post-anesthesia
guidelines
anesthesia fees
Preparing For Anesthesia
Unless you're having a procedure using only local anesthesia,
your surgeon will probably request that you come to
surgery on an empty stomach. This is to prevent the
rare complication of aspiration or inhalation of food
or fluid into the lungs that can occur when anesthesia
is administered -- especially with general anesthesia.
The usual instruction is not to eat or drink anything
after midnight before surgery. If your surgery is early
in the morning, this is not a problem, but for surgeries
that start later in the day or for diabetic patients,
dangerous dehydration or blood sugar disturbances can
result.
New guidelines by the American Society of Anesthesiologists
suggest that solid food should be avoided for 6 hours
and clear fluids for up to 4 hours before anesthesia
is given. Always follow your own doctor's instructions
in preparing for surgery.
Most patients should continue to take regularly scheduled
medications up to and including the morning of surgery.
(Use only a swallow of water if your surgery is early
in the morning).
Exceptions to taking regularly scheduled medications
include insulin, diuretics (water pills), herbal medications
listed below, medicine containing or related to aspirin,
and medications that interact with anesthesia. (See
sections following for information on drug interactions).
Never stop a prescription medication without first
discussing it with your doctor.
To Next Section
- Anesthesia and Herbal Drug Interactions
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