The Effects of Anesthesia After Surgery

Anesthesia can be a dangerous drug by itself, but it's common practice to mix it with other sedatives when administering it to people undergoing surgeries. There are many risks and reactions to the medicines.

Understanding Risks

Thousands of Americans undergo routine surgeries every year, and very few of them know what to expect once they awaken from surgery. Knowing the risks of what is at stake during a surgery, whether routine or not, will help bolster your chances of survival and a positive outcome.

Anesthesia Types

There are multiple ways for administering anesthesia, including: local, regional, peripheral nerve blocks, epidural/spinal and general. Depending on which type of anesthesia is given, it will neutralize a certain part of the patient's body, acting as a numbing agent to block all pain. Anesthesia also blocks the body's stress reactions to surgeries.

Precautions

Anesthesia affects the brain as well as the body The effects anesthesia has on you has a lot to do with your prior health and age. Anesthesia is also mixed with other medications to ensure release of anxiety and proper sedation, so keep in mind that these other medicines may have an impact on you as well while coming out of surgery.
Local or regional anesthesia causes numbness and reduced feeling in a particular area of the body. Muscle control and coordination may also be affected.

Common Effects

Fatigue is noted in patients, and may last up to several weeks after the initial operations.
Cognitive problems including trouble with memory, attention and concentration may also last up to a few weeks after surgery, especially in elderly patients. The best way to combat this is to keep your mind active by playing games, reading books and performing mental exercises. Nausea and vomiting are reported right after the patient wakes up. These symptoms decrease dramatically as the medicines wear off. A drop in body temperature, causing you to feel cold, may come over you as you are awake for your first couple of hours. This feeling will pass as well.

Patient Care

Patients are urged to talk to their nurses or doctors about any troublesome symptoms they experience while coming out of anesthesia. This can be a crucial time in a patient's life and needs to be handled with care and skill.

Resources

• Harvard Health Publications