ANESTHESIA

The goal of the anesthesia is to keep you safe and comfortable during surgery. You will not remember any part of the surgery and your first memory after surgery will be waking up in the recovery room. It is normal to feel nervous before surgery and receiving anesthesia.

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Your anesthesiologist will speak with you before surgery to review the anesthesia options. If you or one of your family members have had problems with anesthesia in the past, you should mention this to your anesthesiologist before surgery.

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Anesthesia medications can make some patients nauseated after surgery. You will receive medication to treat this nausea. If you have become nauseated after surgery in the past, or if you get motion sickness easily, be sure to tell this to your anesthesiologist before surgery.

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Regional anesthesia (a “nerve block” or “pain catheter”) involves injecting numbing medication around certain nerves in your arm or leg. This helps control pain after surgery and reduces the need for narcotic pain medication.

The effects of a nerve block often last for up to 24 hours. If a catheter is placed, you may go home with a small reservoir of medication that will continue to provide pain relief for up to 2-3 days after surgery.