Anesthesia

Anesthesia is used in surgery to minimize pain, discomfort, and shock for patients. You’ll feel no pain during your procedure, and you won’t remember the surgery either.

There are two types that may be used depending on the needs of the surgery: general anesthesia and regional anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you’ll be completely asleep. Regional anesthesia is a combination of a spinal or epidural anesthesia and deep sedation. Spinal or epidural anesthesia is medication injected into your back that makes you completely numb below the waist so you don’t feel anything. Deep sedation is medication that helps you become fully relaxed, feel no pain, and not remember the procedure. Regional anesthesia allows for a gentler and speedy recovery along with less blood loss during the surgery.

If you have any questions about the medications, talk with your care team or anesthesiologist.