Since anesthesia is required in surgeries and in many diagnostic and therapeutic techniques , the number of anesthetized patients has been increasing. When the anesthesiologist evaluates patients in the preoperative period, they ask many questions , revealing some of these issues certain fears . Let's clarify them. Will I wake up from the anesthesia? The anesthesiologist will know: What is the best drug to use; The most adapted to the surgical procedure The most suited to the pathology of the patient To adjust the dose administered; To maintain ventilatory and cardiovascular parameters according to monitoring; To make anesthesia safer. To allow the patient to recover better. Under general anesthesia, will I listen to conversations? In addition to the patient's hemodynamic parameters and clinical signs, the depth of anesthesia is monitored. Therefore, you will not listen to conversations. The anesthetic dose is adjusted to the patient in order to: Be 'sleeping'; Do not wake up agitated; Do not suffer from memory disorders in the postoperative phase. Will I vomit in the postoperative period? There are some factors that contribute to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period: The surgical procedure; The anesthetic technique; The patient himself. After evaluating the patient and knowing the surgical procedure, the anesthetist chooses the anesthetic technique that reduced these situations, takes measures and uses drugs to reduce nausea and vomiting. Will I feel pain? Your anesthesiologist knows the most appropriate drugs and techniques for pain relief from the preoperative to the postoperative phase. Can I suffer from paralysis after epidural anesthesia? The anesthesiologist knows the advantages , indications , contraindications and the precautions to be taken when administering an epidural anesthesia. In addition, the anesthesiologist is familiar with the anatomy of the spine and with the drugs used to make this technique safe . Do I have to stop the medication I take? Depending on your pathology and procedure, the anesthesiologist will decide whether to keep or stop any medication. You should not interrupt the medication without the recommendation of the anesthesiologist . If necessary, he will contact your family doctor. How long should I fast before anesthesia? It is generally advisable to do the following: solid foods : fasting 6 hours before the scheduled surgery time; liquids (water, tea, coffee, juices without pulp): fasting 2 hours before the scheduled surgery time; You should not drink milk, yogurt or juices. The fasting time can be altered due to factors such as the emergence of surgery or the existence of a disease that “delays” digestion. Fasting is a medical prescription. You must follow the directions of the anesthesiologist. Will I feel cold? Today, temperature is a monitored parameter , as it is known that for different reasons, body temperature drops, creating discomfort. To avoid this situation, patients are kept warm in the intra and postoperative phases, except in the rare situations in which the type of surgery advises against it. Author : Cristina Pestana Meet the Anesthesiology team of Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
