General anaesthesia is given to a patient during surgery to alleviate the patient from pains they may feel. An Anaethesiologist will explain the entire procedure prior to the surgery. When a patient is about to undergo general or specialized surgical procedures he/she will first be given medication via and intravenous catheter, they will then be told to breath in a special gas. Once this occurs, the patient will go into a deep sleep.
The anaesthesiologist will be responsible for the patient during the surgery in the terms of making sure that the patient does not awaken or experience any pain. Special instruments are used to monitor the patient during the operative period and while the patient is receiving anaesthesia. Once the patient is asleep, if general surgery is going to be performed, the anaesthesiologist will most likely put a special tube into the patient’s trachea (endotracheal tube) to maintain an adequate oxygen flow. Oxygen will be given throughout the surgical procedure to maintain a certain acceptable oxygen level.
As the operation is ending the surgeon will advise the anaesthesiologist, who will then begin to decrease the anaesthesia to allow the patient to regain consciousness. This will be done slowly to coincide with the operative procedure. When the surgery has been completed the patient will be taken to the Recovery Room. The endotracheal tube will be left in place until the patient begins to fully awaken. Once it has been determined that the patient is able to breath on their own the endotracheal tube will be removed. The patient will be kept on oxygen to maintain a proper level of oxygenation during the rest of the Recovery Room stay.
The patient may feel some discomfort in their throat following general anaesthesia. This should be minor and will go away in a few days. Throat lozenges might be given to the patient to help with the throat pain.
