A general anesthetic is often referred to as a ‘deep sleep’, but it is actually a tightly-controlled, drug-induced coma that is achieved with the administration of powerful anesthetic medications. It is reversible, permitting the patient to ‘wake up’. In addition to adjusting the anesthetic medications throughout the procedure, the anesthesiologist must often administer additional specific medications that alter the ability of the muscles to move, or the ability of the body to respond to painful incisions. During a general anesthetic, the patient’s breathing and cardiac status remain paramount, and must often be controlled by the anesthesiologist. Although complicated, with knowledge and experience, general anesthesia performed to Canadian standards is an extremely safe practice.
A regional anesthetic is when part of the body is ‘frozen’ by the special administration of a local anesthetic. The best-known example is epidural anesthesia for women during childbirth. There have been major advances in regional anesthesia in the last 2 decades: now, an increasing number of surgeries can be performed with the patient comfortably awake and returning home soon after the procedure is completed.
The Anesthesia Care Team is a group of professionals dedicated to the care of patients before, during, and after surgery. Led by the physician anesthesiologist, this team consists of nurses and respiratory therapists, some of whom have taken additional specialized training (e.g. a one-year Anesthesia Assistant program), and all of whom work together to ensure excellent care that is safe, effective, and efficient.
If you are expecting a child or if you are waiting to have surgery, you probably have lots of questions… and you definitely want to know that your care will be as safe and as satisfying as possible. Ask for an appointment with an anesthesiologist at the hospital where your care will be provided. An anesthesiology consultation can be requested by your surgeon or by your primary caregiver (family doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner). We would be happy to meet with you, to answer your questions, and to ensure that you get the best care tailored to your specific medical needs.