Michal Brooks

What are the risks associated with anesthesia?

While your question about risks associated with an anesthetic is best addressed by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, I can offer advice on how best to optimize yourself before surgery, helping to control what is within your realm to control. For starters, please be assured that your entire anesthesia, surgical, and nursing team are dedicated to your safe care. They will all be looking for any needs that should be addressed from the time you receive your pre-op education to the time you arrive in holding, through the OR, in recovery, and even once you arrive back home. You can control things on your end by optimizing YOU! Heed any advice your surgeon has given you. You will be asked not to eat or drink anything after a certain time before your surgery- known as being NPO (nothing by mouth). Usually, it's nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your operation. Don't take this lightly. Do not put anything in your mouth and swallow it- even snacks or "just a sip of coffee with a tad of cream because you have to have it in the morning." This is the quickest way to have your case delayed or even canceled, in some instances. If you are having emergent surgery and you have a full belly- it's okay, just be sure your team knows. They will use a safety protocol in that instance and there is every reason to believe it will all be fine! The only difference you might notice is that someone will press on your throat in a specific spot as you go off to sleep to help keep you safe. It is worthwhile to note that if someone arrives to surgery emergently and is incapacitated for whatever reason, unable to answer any questions- all the safety protocols go into effect and all the stops are pulled out to keep that person safe. In the case of a planned procedure, if you did eat/drink during the window you weren't supposed to, please be honest about that so you can be kept safe. Note that chewing gum and smoking should be avoided in your NPO time period as well. If you have medications you usually take in the mornings, ask which ones you should plan to take (with as little water as possible) and which ones to hold off on taking. This is a great question to ask during your pre-admission visit, should you be scheduled for one. If you are able, get out and walk or exercise to increase your general health and oxygen capacity. If you smoke, stop it! (Don't be alarmed- plenty of people come through an anesthetic just fine who smoke. None of this is to scare you! It's about optimizing what is within your control.) Eat balanced meals and be sure to stay well hydrated in time leading up to your surgery (and after). Be explicitly honest with your anesthesia provider about your health, any medications you take (both legal and not-so-much), your medical history, and your family medial history- don't forget to mention to any untoward reactions family members may have had in the past when they went to sleep for surgery, You will be asked many questions before your surgery. You'll be asked about your exercise tolerance- like whether or not you can climb a flight of stairs without getting winded, for example. This is common and informs them about your lung capacity and helps them understand what to expect in providing your care. They will ask you to open your mouth as wide as you can so they can check it out back there. They'll ask about loose teeth. There will be lots of questions- it's completely routine. The next thing you can do to help yourself is relax. Try breathing exercises or visualization techniques- whatever works for you. Try your best to stay calm and trust the process. Know that everyone on your team that day showed up to take good care of you. Wishing you all the best!