article thumbnail

You Are Not “Asleep” Under Anesthesia

Ed Mariano

“You will be asleep for your surgery,” anesthesiologists often reassure their patients. Just before the start of anesthesia, a patient may hear the operating room nurse saying, “Think of a nice dream as you go off to sleep.” Akshay Shanker and Emery Brown explain brain wave patterns found in patients under general anesthesia.

article thumbnail

AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE WITH ONE FINGER

The Anesthesia Consultant

An anesthesiologist can save your life by treating airway obstruction with as little as one finger, thereby maintaining safe oxygen flow in and out of your lungs. Patients wonder what their anesthesiologist is doing while they are sleeping. Anesthesiologists supply oxygen via a mask or via a nasal cannula.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

DYING UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

The Anesthesia Consultant

You’re an anesthesiologist and you’re contacted by a patient who is dying of cancer. Will you enable dying under general anesthesia? A recent article from the United Kingdom discussed this topic of end of life anesthesia , otherwise known as “terminal anesthesia.” Is anyone doing terminal anesthesia anywhere?

article thumbnail

Regional Anesthesia vs. General Anesthesia for Hip Fracture

DFW Anesthesia Professionals

In choosing the most appropriate anesthesia technique, healthcare providers consider several factors to optimize patient outcomes and enhance recovery. Regional anesthesia (RA) and general anesthesia (GA) are the two primary methods used for hip fracture surgeries.

article thumbnail

HOW LONG DOES GENERAL ANESTHESIA LAST?

The Anesthesia Consultant

How long will the anesthesia last?” The query “How long does general anesthesia last?” When your surgery ends, your anesthesiologist will turn off the sevoflurane in your inhaled gas mixture, and 90% of the sevoflurane is typically ventilated away in the first 10-15 minutes. Will I Have a Breathing Tube During Anesthesia?

article thumbnail

INTRAVENOUS CAFFEINE FOLLOWING GENERAL ANESTHESIA

The Anesthesia Consultant

Data exists that intravenous caffeine may be effective in assisting the awakening of patients following general anesthesia. Will future anesthesiologists routinely use caffeine to wake patients after surgery? Will a shot of IV espresso be the stimulus for you to return to consciousness after your general anesthetic?

article thumbnail

DOES GENERAL ANESTHESIA CAUSE DEMENTIA?

The Anesthesia Consultant

Does exposure to general anesthesia cause dementia? Association of Mild Cognitive Impairment With Exposure to General Anesthesia for Surgical and Nonsurgical Procedures: A Population-Based Study. Why Did Take Me So Long To Wake From General Anesthesia? Will I Have a Breathing Tube During Anesthesia?