Types of Anesthesia

Giving Quality Anesthesia Care For Over 20 Years

General

Anesthesia

Under general anesthesia you will feel no pain and have no awareness. You will be “completely asleep”. Depending on your procedure and your medical conditions, your NHAC anesthesiologist will administer appropriate medications, monitor your vital signs, and treat any issues that arise, all with your safety as the top priority. We will be with you at all times, and will wake you up appropriately when it is safe to do so.

Monitored Anesthesia Care ("MAC") including Moderate to Deep Sedation

When receiving monitored anesthesia care you will be given medications, most commonly through your IV, to create a “twilight state” for your procedure. This is common for less invasive procedures which do not require general anesthesia. Varying levels of sedation can be achieved based on patient preference and procedure requirement.

Regional

Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia or “nerve blocks” can be very useful for many procedures when operating on only a specific limb or region of the body. Regional anesthesia can be used as a primary anesthetic, or as an option for post-operative pain control.

Spinal and Epidural

Anesthesia

Spinal and epidural anesthesia are a type of regional anesthesia that provide pain relief or numbing from the waist down. These approaches are commonly used for labor and delivery with the benefit of remaining awake. Both provide safe and reliable anesthesia in the operating room, and for post-operative pain.

What To Expect

Before Surgery

We begin with a preoperative consultation. During this time you will provide your anesthesiologist with information related to your health. This includes any prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, medical history, allergies, and any known reactions to anesthesia in the past. It is important to discuss any concerns you have regarding your procedure at this time.

During Surgery

Your anesthesiologist will diagnose and treat any conditions that arise during surgery. Your anesthesiologist will monitor vital life functions and make any necessary changes to the patient specific anesthesia plan that was determined based on the preoperative consultation.

After Surgery

A postoperative evaluation takes place and you are monitored until you are comfortable, and the anesthesia has worn off. You may experience side effects following the procedure, the most common being nausea. It is generally required to have someone available to drive you home and watch you during the next 24 hours after surgery.

NHAC Anesthesiologists play a critical role in patient care. Our anesthesiologists are dedicated to providing quality service, safety, and comfort to every patient for which we care for. We remain with our patients throughout the entire peri-operative period: before (pre-operative), during (intra-operative), and after (post-operative) surgery.