Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery

Often, you do not need to stay overnight in a hospital after surgery or diagnostic tests. Instead, you can usually return home to complete your recovery.

Ambulatory (or outpatient) anesthesia and surgical care has been proven to be safe, convenient and cost-effective, and can be performed in a variety of facilities. You may have your procedure performed in a hospital, a freestanding surgery center or, in some cases, in a surgeon's office.

What is ambulatory anesthesia?

Ambulatory anesthesia is tailored to meet the needs of ambulatory surgery so you can go home soon after your operation. Short-acting anesthetic drugs and specialized anesthetic techniques as well as care specifically focused to the needs of the ambulatory patient are used to make your experience safe and pleasant.

In general, if you are in reasonably good health, you are a candidate for ambulatory anesthesia and surgery. Because each patient is unique, your anesthesiologist will carefully evaluate you and your health status to determine if you should undergo ambulatory anesthesia.

After your early recovery from anesthesia, you usually will return directly home. Patients do well with the assistance of their family or friends. If you do not have family members to help at home, you may require additional assistance. Some ambulatory facilities offer special postsurgical recovery facilities or extended services with nurses who visit you at home.

How will I meet my anesthesiologist?

Your anesthesiologist or an associate will interview you before your anesthesia to gather the information needed to evaluate your general health. This interview may be a telephone call, a visit to the facility or a visit in the office.

Laboratory tests may be ordered, and other medical, surgical and anesthetic records will be reviewed. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your previous anesthetic experiences and medical conditions, medications and allergies you may have.

If you have particular concerns, you should discuss them with the anesthesiologist.

What types of anesthesia are available?

Decisions regarding your anesthesia are tailored specifically for you. The type of anesthesia you receive depends on your general health and the type of surgical procedure as well as your preferences, when possible.

Based on the information your anesthesiologist has gathered from your records and preanesthesia visit, potential choices for your anesthetic care will be discussed with you.

There are four main types of anesthesia from which to choose:

General anesthesia
Provides loss of consciousness and loss of sensation.
Regional anesthesia
Involves the injection of a local anesthetic to provide numbness, loss of pain or loss of sensation to a large region of the body. Regional anesthetic techniques include spinal blocks, epidural blocks and arm and leg blocks. Medications can be given that will make you comfortable, drowsy and blur your memory.
Monitored anesthesia
Consists of medications to make you drowsy and to relieve pain. These medications supplement local anesthetic injections, which are often given by your surgeon. While you are sedated, your anesthesiologist will monitor your vital body functions.
Local anesthesia
Numbness to a small area, is often injected by your surgeon. In this case, there may be no anesthesia team member with you.

Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits associated with the different anesthetic options. Occasionally it is not possible to keep you comfortable with regional monitored or local anesthesia, and general anesthesia may be needed.

Although uncommon, complications or side effects can occur with each anesthetic option even though you are monitored carefully and your anesthesiologist takes special precautions to avoid them. With this information, you will together determine the type of anesthesia best suited for you.

Preoperative Reminders

What about eating or drinking before my anesthesia?

As a general rule, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery. Under some circumstances, you may be given permission by your anesthesiologist to drink clear liquids up to a few hours before your anesthesia.

If you smoke, please refrain.

Will I need someone to take me home?

Yes, you must make arrangements for a responsible adult to take you home after your anesthetic or sedation. You will not be allowed to leave alone or drive yourself home. It is strongly suggested you have someone stay with you during the first 24 hours.

If you have local anesthesia only, with no sedation, it may be possible to go home without someone to accompany you. Check with your doctor first.

These instructions are important for your safety. If you do not follow your physician's instructions about not eating and having an adult take you home, your surgery may be canceled.

Should I take my usual medicines?

Some medications should be taken and others should not. It is important to discuss this with your anesthesiologist. Do not interrupt medications unless your anesthesiologist recommends it.

What should I wear?

If at all possible, wear loose-fitting clothes that are easy to put on and will fit over bulky bandages or surgical dressings. Leave your valuables at home.

Day of Surgery

What happens before my surgery?

Most commonly, you will meet the anesthesiologist who will care for you on the day of your surgery before you go into the operating room. Your anesthesiologist will then review your medical and anesthesia history and the results of any laboratory tests, and answer any further questions you may have.

Nurses will record your vital signs, and your anesthesiologist and surgeon will visit with you, completing any evaluations and laboratory tests. Intravenous fluids will be started and preoperative medications given, if needed.

Once in the operating room, monitoring devices will be attached such as a blood pressure cuff, EKG and other devices for your safety. At this point, you will be ready for anesthesia.

What happens during my surgery?

Your anesthesiologist is personally responsible for your comfort and well-being. Your anesthesiologist leads the anesthesia care team to monitor as well as manage your vital body functions during your surgery.

Your anesthesiologist is also responsible for managing medical problems that might arise related to surgery as well as any chronic medical conditions you may have, such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems. A member of your anesthesia team will be with you throughout your procedure.

Recovery in the Surgical Facility

What can I expect after the operation until I go home?

After surgery, you will be taken to the postanesthesia care unit, often called the recovery room. Your anesthesiologist will direct the monitoring and medications needed for your safe recovery.

For about the first 30 minutes, you will be watched closely by specially trained nurses. During this period, you may be given extra oxygen and your breathing and heart functions will be observed closely.

In some facilities, you may then be moved to another area where you will continue to recover and family or friends may be allowed to be with you. Here you will be offered something to drink and you will be assisted in getting up.

Will I have any side effects?

The amount of discomfort you experience will depend on a number of factors, especially the type of surgery. Your doctors and nurses can relieve pain after your surgery with medicines by mouth or injection or by numbing the area around the incision. Your discomfort should be tolerable, but do not expect to be totally pain-free.

Nausea or vomiting may be related to anesthesia, the type of surgical procedure or postoperative pain medications. Although less of a problem today because of improved anesthetic agents and techniques, these side effects continue to occur for some patients.

Medications to minimize postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting are often given by your anesthesiologist during the surgical procedure and in recovery.

When will I be able to go home?

This will depend on the policy of the surgery center, the type of surgery and the anesthesia used. Most patients are ready to go home between 1-4 hours after surgery. Your anesthesiologist will be able to give you a more specific time estimate.

Occasionally, it is necessary to stay overnight. All ambulatory surgical facilities have arrangements with a hospital if this is medically necessary.

What instructions will I receive?

Both written and verbal instructions will be given. Most facilities have both general instructions and instructions that apply specifically to your surgery.

In general, for 24 hours after your anesthesia:

Do not drink alcohol or use nonprescription medications.
Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery.
Do not make important decisions.

You will be given telephone numbers to call if you have any concerns or if you need emergency help after you go home.

Recovery at home

What can I expect?

Be prepared to go home and finish your recovery there. Patients often experience drowsiness and minor aftereffects following ambulatory anesthesia, including muscle aches, a sore throat and occasional dizziness or headaches. Nausea may also be present, but vomiting is less common.

These side effects usually decline rapidly in the hours following surgery, but it may take several days before they are gone completely. The majority of patients do not feel up to their typical activities the next day, usually due to general tiredness or surgical discomfort.

Plan to take it easy for a few days until you feel back to normal. Know that a period of recovery at home is common and to be expected.

Follow-Up

Be sure to follow the instructions given to you while at the surgical facility. These instructions are important to permit the fastest, safest and most pleasant recovery possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call your anesthesiologist.

Sometime after your ambulatory anesthesia and surgery, you will be contacted to see how you feel and if you had any problems. You may receive a telephone call from the surgical facility or a questionnaire to mail back.

It is important to use this opportunity to let your caregivers know how you feel, so they may provide the best care possible.

Final Thoughts

Please ask questions! Your experience will be easier if you know what usually happens and what you should expect.

Remember, the focus of ambulatory anesthesia is on you, the patient.

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