Dr. Patrick D. Mccarty, DDS

It is possible to maintain the ability to breathe on your own during general anesthesia. However, adequate protective airway reflexes are considered at risk of being inadequate which can lead to obstruction, laryngospasm or simply inadequate minute ventilation. As a result, it is prudent an anesthesiologist is present for patients under general anesthesia to account for preemptively securing a patent airway or being capable of rescuing a patient's airway in the event of adverse events.

Anesthesia medications delivered through an parenteral route (intravenous, intramuscular, etc.) are predominantly weight based dosage with attention made to adjust based on a patient's organ function(s) along with a focus on intended depth of anesthesia and subsequent airway concerns. Many of today's anesthetic agents are very titratable due to their short duration of action and/or relative lipid insolubility.

While aspiration pneumonia is the most direct cause of anesthesia related pneumonia. Hence the pre-operative requirement of fasting (or NPO nothing to eat by mouth for a duration of 6-8 hours).

Other indirect methods of acquiring pneumonia in relation to intubation rely on factors for respiratory tract colonization and nosocomial pneumonia overlap such as; patient-related conditions, infection control–related problems, intervention related alterations in host defenses, and bacterial exposure

Some can be done with local anesthesia alone, while others would not be physiologically possible without anesthesia general intervention ... all others fall somewhere along the spectrum of sedation/anesthesia with varying degrees of comfort, efficacy, and access for the surgeon.

Local anesthesia depends on whether the repair will involve preparing the later under the enamel of the tooth (dentin).

It is not uncommon for a patient to be disinhibited on emergence from anesthesia.

The Anesthesiologist will monitor and control your blood pressure during the procedure

The Anesthesiologist is responsible for your well being during a surgical procedure. They will evaluate both your medical history and a review of your organ systems, body habitus and airway. Think of the Anesthesiologists as your “lifeguard” during the procedure.

Well, while unsure of the child’s age and duration of recovery from anesthesia, it could be anything from some residual disinhibition due to early stage recovery or being somewhat overly tired from a long day. Many kids have a brief run of excitement before falling asleep for the night under normal circumstances. Lastly, I would consider if he's on a bit of a “sugar high” from any post-op foods he has received at home. Honestly, I would not worry about it considering other common post-anesthesia reactions can involve nausea, fever, or being lethargic. A little hyperactivity seems like a nice alternative, no?

Hypertension can be treated intraoperatively — as a patient you should assure you are compliant with medications based on your doctor’s suggestions, get some rest in the coming days and try not to worry — post surgery remember that efforts made to improve your health will put you in a better situation in event you are in need of future anesthesia related procedures

Hi,

There are a few methods of inducing anesthesia:

1) Intravenous medications
2) Inhalational anesthetic gas
3) Intramuscular injection

All three of these methods can be preceded by oral medication used to relax a child and create an amnestic effect. However, this requires the cooperation of a child in ingesting such medication which is typically a liquid with a somewhat bitter taste. An alternative delivery is through a mist directed up a nostril and absorbed through mucosa, but the downside is a brief burning sensation that can be upsetting to a child.

In the appropriate situation, many providers will utilize a mask induction w/ an anesthetic has called sevoflurane. It does have a strong odor that can be described to a child as similar to nail polish, wet paint or even stinky feet (kids tend to laugh at that last one quelling the anxiety). This method requires roughly 10 deep breaths into a mask (you can expect amnesia after the 3rd/4th breath). It does not smell horrible but does not smell like roses either. This results in no “shots” while the child is still awake as IV insertion occurs after they are “asleep.”

An intramuscular injection is typically the least desirable method but utilized for a patient who can not tolerate any cooperation or is at risk of hurting themselves or someone involved in their care. It is quickly effective and renders a child “asleep” in 3-5 minutes.

Alternatively, a local anesthetic cream (“EMLA cream”) can be applied to a prospective IV site prior to insertion making the site numb and pain free to the needle.

Best of luck - and remember the surgery/anesthesia process is always worse for the parent than the child as anticipation is the hardest aspect. Do everything you can to help your child realize there is nothing to be afraid of and do your best not to show to much of your own anxiety as they look to you for how they should react to an unknown situation like surgery.

Best regards,

Patrick

Considering the surgery will remove the source of your infection and subsequent fever ... yes it is safe ... good luck and I hope you recover well

Excessive movement during the scanning may cause blurred images. Also at times your son may be asked to hold his breath and stay quite still while each scan is taken. Patients who have difficulty lying still or feel anxious or claustrophobic are often administered sedation and/or anesthesia to allow for these requirements to occur. It is probably unreasonable to ask a 3 year old to tolerate the procedure otherwise. It will be harder on you as a parent than on your child. Inherent risk of anesthesia in a healthy patient is less than your son being a passenger in a vehicle on the highway. In perspective of day to day life, the risk is appropriate for the benefit.

The surgeon would not be acutely aware which is why an anesthesiologist and/or CRNA are present throughout the procedure to administer, monitor and intervene if need be with critical care.

For many general anesthetics yes you are - although the appropriate term of being administered "muscle relaxants" to prevent voluntary muscle movement is much less worrisome to hear right? Often a patient is paralyzed during the intubation (or placement of a breathing tube). Muscle relaxants further aid in allowing retraction of tissue such as muscles, organs etc to allow access to the surgical site. Patients are also paralyzed to allow for mechanical ventilation from a ventilator. You are monitored and these medications are reversible when the appropriate time occurs.

Anesthesia itself carries inherent risk. In addition, comorbidities of a given patient increase risk. While age alone may not be a concern, associated age degeneration of organ systems would influence risk of anesthesia. For any patient, the necessity of a given surgical procedure and the health of the individual patient dictates whether inherent risks of anesthesia are justified.
Best wishes for your mother’s recovery.

Take care.