How long under anesthesia is safe

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Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » General Anesthesia. Top of the page. Topic Overview General anesthesia is a combination of medicines that you inhale or receive through a needle in a vein to cause you to become unconscious. Risks and complications from general anesthesia Serious side effects of general anesthesia are uncommon in people who are otherwise healthy. Rare but serious risks of general anesthesia include: Heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.

Increases or decreases in blood pressure. Pneumonia or other breathing disorders. Reactions to medicines used in the anesthesia. Muscle damage and a rapid increase in body temperature. Related Information Anesthesia. Credits Current as of: May 27, In some cases, such as less invasive procedures, local anesthesia or conscious sedation may be most appropriate, and this will likely be administered by your surgeon.

Surgeons board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery are required to operate only in accredited facilities and with a fully qualified anesthesiologist or anesthetist. To find a board certified cosmetic surgeon in your area, we encourage you to use our Find a Surgeon tool. ABCS Blog. April 11, ABCS. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Even including patients who had emergency surgeries, poor health, or were older, there is a very small chance—just 0. Certain risk factors —such as poor overall health, obesity, smoking, sickness, or old age—are usually to blame for anesthesia-related complications.

It is also critical to be honest with your provider about any medications you are taking to avoid any unexpected interactions. Always follow your doctor's instructions about avoiding food and drink before surgery. Fasting is usually necessary starting about six hours before your surgery.

You may be able to drink clear fluids until a few hours prior. Your doctor may tell you to take some of your regular medications with a small sip of water during your fasting time.

Discuss your medications with your doctor. You may need to avoid some medications, such as aspirin and some other over-the-counter blood thinners, for at least a week before your procedure. These medications may cause complications during surgery. Some vitamins and herbal remedies, such as ginseng, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, kava and others, may cause complications during surgery. Discuss the types of dietary supplements you take with your doctor before your surgery.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about any changes to your medications during the fasting period. Usually you won't take oral diabetes medication the morning of your surgery. If you take insulin, your doctor may recommend a reduced dose. If you have sleep apnea, discuss your condition with your doctor. The anesthesiologist or anesthetist will need to carefully monitor your breathing during and after your surgery.

Before you undergo general anesthesia, your anesthesiologist will talk with you and may ask questions about:. Your anesthesiologist usually delivers the anesthesia medications through an intravenous line in your arm. Sometimes you may be given a gas that you breathe from a mask. Children may prefer to go to sleep with a mask. Once you're asleep, the anesthesiologist may insert a tube into your mouth and down your windpipe.

The tube ensures that you get enough oxygen and protects your lungs from blood or other fluids, such as stomach fluids. You'll be given muscle relaxants before doctors insert the tube to relax the muscles in your windpipe. Your doctor may use other options, such as a laryngeal airway mask, to help manage your breathing during surgery.

Someone from the anesthesia care team monitors you continuously while you sleep. He or she will adjust your medications, breathing, temperature, fluids and blood pressure as needed. Any issues that occur during the surgery are corrected with additional medications, fluids and, sometimes, blood transfusions.

When the surgery is complete, the anesthesiologist reverses the medications to wake you up. You'll slowly wake either in the operating room or the recovery room. You'll probably feel groggy and a little confused when you first wake. You may experience common side effects such as:. You may also experience other side effects after you awaken from anesthesia, such as pain.