Resources for Patients
Welcome to our resource center. Here, you’ll find important information to help you manage your health. Explore a variety of guides, tips, and tools designed to support you through your healthcare journey.
Understanding Your Anesthesia
Your anesthesia team’s goal is to keep you safe, comfortable, and pain-free during your procedure.
You may expect your anesthesia providers to:
- Review your medical history, perform an assessment, and develop an individualized anesthesia plan
- Discuss your medications, allergies, and previous anesthesia experiences
- Monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygen levels continuously
- Stay with you throughout your procedure
Serious complications with anesthesia are uncommon, and today’s monitoring and medications make awareness during general anesthesia extremely rare. However, every medical procedure carries some risk, which is why your anesthesia team carefully evaluates and monitors you throughout your care. This will be further discussed with you during the informed consent process before your procedure.
The type of anesthesia you receive depends on your procedure, medical history, medications, and personal needs. Not every patient receives the same anesthetic, and your anesthesia plan will be individualized for you.
How You Can Help Us Keep You Safe
- Follow your fasting instructions carefully (NPO means nothing to eat or drink for a set period before surgery)
- Take only the medications your team instructed you to take the morning of surgery
- Tell us about any recent illnesses, fevers, infections, or hospitalizations
- Let us know if you have sleep apnea or use a CPAP, BiPAP, oxygen, or other breathing device at home — and bring your CPAP machine with you if you use one at night
- Bring an up-to-date list of your medications and allergies
- Share any personal or family history of anesthesia-related concerns. These may include postoperative nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, a difficult airway, prolonged time on a breathing tube, unexpected hospitalization, or malignant hyperthermia (a rare inherited reaction to certain anesthetic medications)
- Arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home after the procedure
Types of Anesthesia & What to Expect
General Anesthesia
You are completely asleep and unaware during the procedure.
How it is given:
- Medications are given through an IV, and sometimes through gases that you breathe
- While you are asleep, your anesthesia provider may place a breathing tube or other airway device to support your breathing and protect your airway during the procedure
Expected recovery:
- Grogginess, fatigue, and slowed reaction time may last several hours after surgery
Common side effects may include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sore throat or hoarseness
- Sleepiness or grogginess
- Chills, shivering, or muscle aches
- Dry mouth
Less common risks may include:
- Confusion or agitation (more common in older adults)
- Dental or lip injury
- Allergic reaction
- Breathing problems
Most side effects generally improve within 24–48 hours.
Neuraxial Anesthesia (Spinal or Epidural)
Medication is placed near the spinal nerves to provide anesthesia or pain relief to the lower body. Depending on your procedure, you may be awake, lightly sedated, or receive additional anesthesia.
What you may feel:
- Warmth or tingling in your legs
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- Temporary numbness or weakness
- Loss of sensation in the lower body
Expected recovery:
- Numbness and weakness typically improve over several hours, depending on the medications used
Common side effects may include:
- Temporary numbness or weakness
- Itching
- Mild soreness at the injection site
- Temporary difficulty urinating
- Dry mouth
Less common risks may include:
- Headache (especially after spinal anesthesia)
- Infection (very rare)
- Bleeding (very rare)
- Nerve injury (very rare)
- Allergic reaction (rare)
Most effects generally resolve as the medication wears off.
Regional Anesthesia (Peripheral Nerve Block)
Medication is placed near specific nerves to numb a particular area of the body, such as an arm, shoulder, hand, leg, foot, or knee. Nerve blocks often improve pain control after surgery.
What you may feel:
- Warmth or tingling
- Temporary numbness
- Temporary weakness of the affected limb
Expected recovery:
- Depending on the medication used, numbness and weakness may last from several hours up to 24 hours
Common side effects may include:
- Temporary numbness or weakness
- Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site
- Dry mouth
Less common risks may include:
- Infection (very rare)
- Bleeding (very rare)
- Nerve injury (very rare)
- Allergic reaction (rare)
- Incomplete block requiring additional pain medication or anesthesia
Your anesthesia team will give you instructions on how to protect the numb arm or leg until sensation returns.
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) / IV Sedation
Medication is given through an IV to help you relax. This is frequently combined with the surgeon administering small amounts of local anesthesia at the procedural site to block surgical pain. You may be very sleepy but will continue to breathe on your own. Many patients remember little or nothing about the procedure — this is expected and not a sign that anything went wronggenerally expected and not a cause for concern.
Expected recovery:
- Most patients recover within a few hours and return home the same day
Common side effects may include:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Mild nausea
- Temporary memory gaps
- Allergic reaction (rare)
Local Anesthesia
A small area is numbed with medication injected into the skin. You remain fully awake.
Expected recovery:
- Numbness typically resolves within a few hours
Common side effects may include:
- Mild stinging during injection
- Temporary numbness
- Minor bruising
Pain Management After Surgery
Anesthesia keeps you comfortable during surgery. After surgery, additional medications, nerve blocks, or other treatments may be used to help manage pain during your recovery. Your team will work with you on a plan that fits your procedure and your needs.
When to Call After Surgery
Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical care if you have:
- Severe or persistent nausea or vomiting
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Severe headache after spinal or epidural anesthesia
- Numbness or weakness that does not improve
- Persistent dizziness
- Fever
- Difficulty swallowing lasting more than 48 hours after a breathing tube was used
- Severe pain not controlled with your prescribed medications
Questions?
Your anesthesia team is here to support you. Thank you for trusting us with your care — our goal is to make your experience as smooth and comfortable as possible for you and your loved ones. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns at any point before, during, or after your procedure.