Dr. Marc Morales

Yes, generally, anesthesia would be used for fistula creation and/or repair. At times, a local nerve block can be utilized if absolutely necessary. The surgeon and anesthesiologist will come up with the best plan to handle the surgery from an anesthetic standpoint, taking into account your mother's general health and other medical conditions.

I am unsure what anesthetic procedure you are speaking about. Generally, no anesthetic should cause nerve damage. Improper technique could hypothetically cause damage to a nerve if injected, but even that would be rare and usually temporary.

While I am not sure what surgery you are having or other medical problems you may have if any, it is quite routine to have a meeting with the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist will review your general health, your past history if any with sedation, or anesthetic agents, the medications you are on if any, and general medical conditions. They usually also will perform a brief medical exam. After reviewing all the information they obtained they will review with you the general plan they have for the type of anesthetic that would be best suited for you based on the procedure planned, and your medical history. They will go over any concerns and answer any questions you may have about the anesthesia and how it will be provided, and recovery time. They will also go over any side effects, or complications that may be present, if any, for the anesthesia planned. During the visit they will address and answer any questions you have as well. This way you as the patient, and your anesthesiologist are both on the "same page", comfortable with the anesthetic plan, and have your questions or concerns answered so each of you are comfortable. I hope this answers your question

Thank you for the question,

Typically, Adderall is given in short or long acting preparations. If the Adderall does not affect your blood pressure or heart rate (which in some it can), or interfere with any of the planned anesthetic agents, you usually will not have to stop it, but take your last dose typically 8 hours prior to your surgery, and resume when you can tolerate oral fluids and medications. However, you should always address starting and stopping medications with your attending physician and attending anesthesiologist, as they will know what if any other factors or history they may be concerned with prior to medial branch nerve ablation (burning of the nerves).

Thank you for your question. As there are several reasons for sleep apnea this should always be discussed with your anesthesiologist. The causes of sleep apnea also may be related to other medical conditions which may play a role in anesthetic selection. Since this is a knee surgery and typically requires general anesthesia, although the sleep apnea typically does not directly affect the anesthesia, depending on the severity of it, and if due to an uncorrected anatomical airway obstruction it is something as an anesthesiologist would want to be aware of and take precautions for if warranted. Otherwise typically the diagnosis of sleep apnea alone is not a concern.

Typically, anesthetic agents do not cause muscle twitching, especially those in use today. You might check with your doctor who performed the test and they can advise what happened, and check what anesthetics were used.

All anesthetic providers and surgeons are aware by time of the procedure what type of Diabetes (Type I or II) and what blood glucose levels the patient typically has. We compensate for no food typically given 8 hours prior to surgery by monitoring the glucose level, and providing sugar and insulin (to reduce sugar) if needed. Since some patients may be unable to eat due to sedation or nausea post surgery, the IV with sugar if needed, and glucose monitoring continues until the patient is able to eat on their own.

You can ask, however most root canals can be performed in the dental office with sedation and local anesthesia. Dental offices are unable to offer and monitor appropriately general anesthesia. This would require you to go to a surgical center of hospital which may not be covered by your insurance provider. General anesthesia while safe is not without risk and requires an anesthesia provider meet and discuss everything with you to determine if you are a candidate. In my experience most dental providers especially root canal dentists if you are forthright with them of your concern and anxiety, will provide some medication to take before your procedure and some light sedation to use during the procedure or Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) if warranted, not contra-indicated and available.

The vast majority of patients are not allergic to general anesthesia agents. Some patients may have allergies to local anesthetics such as Lidocaine (similar to what dentists use) but most again do not. If you have concerns your anesthesiologist can address them with you prior to the procedure or you can consult with your allergist. If you have had Lidocaine or Novocaine in the dentists office without problem before, generally you should be fine.

Typically if just a local anesthetic such as Marcaine or Lidocaine was given you should not feel drowsy. If some reason sedation was given in addition to the local anesthetic that could account for drowsiness.

This depends on the type of anesthesia given but typically most anesthetics will not per se cause fever on the day after a procedure. We often ask that when was has low grade fever after a procedure that they check with their surgeon to be certain.

Typically not long but to answer this correctly it would be helpful to know what anesthesia agent was utilized. For short procedures such as a CT scan most anesthesiologists will use a very short acting agent and the child therefore would not have a long effect from the sedation.

Anesthesia typically utilized in procedures may vary. Depending on the length of the procedure may anesthesiologists are moving towards TIVA (Total IV Anesthesia) which typically has less side effects than inhilation anesthesia. There is regional anesthesia where one blocks sensation in a particular region such as an arm. There is local anesthesia which is used to numb a small area such as to place sutures. Epidural anesthesia is a type of regional anesthesia where anesthetic is place into the Epidural space of the spine and is often used for labor and delivery.

There are some risks associated with being overweight and some of the medical conditions which might be associated with being overweight such as hypertension, diabetes, etc. However, having a C-Section is often done with an epidural block using local anesthetics. This is a very safe procedure, and avoids a number of concerns one might have with general anesthesia. Nonetheless, you should be speak with the anesthesiologist who would be present for the C Section since it sounds as though it is elective, and present your concerns so that they can review your medical history, conduct an exam, and talk to you about your anesthetic options.

Some anesthetic agents can be excreted in breast milk, this would depend on what agents were utilized. The best way to make sure is to check with your surgeon who can find out what agents were utilized. Most agents would not stay long if excreted so likely if more than a week post your procedure and not on any other medications to prohibit breast feeding then you are likely good to go. Again, check with your surgeon and or pediatrician for final confirmation.

Any ointments containing an ingredient ending in "caine" found over the counter may have some numbing effect. Likely given its a nose piercing and the procedure is fairly quick, numbing the area with a cold pack or ice prior to insertion should ease the pain.

Depending on the medication he gave and where injected yes it is still possible that the area will feel numb and swollen. Adding an ice pack to reduce swelling may help. If the area is not improving within another 1-2 hours you should notify the oral surgeon or dentist so that they can re-evaluate the situation.

Most often these are simply a pearing down of excess skin that grows until it is flat against the normal skin. Likely no anesthesia is necessary and cold application may help with any discomfort during the procedure. Please let you physician know if you are experiencing discomfort and a local anesthetic likely can be given.

Most anesthetics actually lower the blood pressure it is rare for them to elevate it except in very rare cases or conditions. Generally you would take your blood pressure medication as indicated and check with your anesthesiologist and internist for any further instructions prior to your surgery.

Local anesthesia is typically used for minor procedures whereas general anesthesia is used for a surgical procedure where local anesthesia would not be possible. Some surgical procedures can be done with regional anesthesia whereas local anesthesia is used to block a nerve or nerve bundle to an area. The best thing to do with fears you stated about being "knocked" out is to meet with the anesthesiologist prior to your procedure so that they understand what concerns you may have and can come up with the best plan of action for you.