What types of anesthesia are available?

There are a variety of anesthetic techniques available for almost every surgical procedure. The type of anesthesia you receive depends on your general health and the type of surgical procedure as well as your preferences, when possible. In every case, the decision about your anesthesia is made with your specific needs in mind. Based on the information your anesthesiologist has gathered from your records and preanesthesia visit, the following 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 is the type that most people consider "going to sleep".
• 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 to make you drowsy and blur your memory during this experience.
• Monitored anesthesia care consists of local anesthetic injections as well as the use of medications to make you drowsy. While you are sedated, your anesthesiologist will monitor your vital signs and provide for your comfort.
• Local anesthesia, provides numbness to a small area, and may be injected by your surgeon.

Each of these techniques has its own particular advantages and disadvantages, risks and benefits. Your anesthesiologist will discuss these anesthetic options with you. 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 with your anesthesiologist, determine the type of anesthesia best suited for you.