Anesthesia Procedures in Surgery: Important Stages for Patient Safety and Comfort

Anesthesia Procedures in Surgery
Anesthesia is an important process in surgery to reduce pain, anxiety and discomfort during surgical procedures. The anesthesia procedure involves several stages that must be passed, namely preoperative examination, anesthesia preparation, intraoperative monitoring, postoperative care, and postoperative pain management. This article aims to explain these procedures in an easy-to-understand manner.

 

1. Preoperative Examination

After a preoperative examination, the patient will be prepared for anesthesia, which includes:

• History: Collecting the patient's medical history, including history of illnesses, allergies, and medications currently being used.
  

• Examination: Assess the patient's overall condition, including vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.

• Laboratory tests: Perform blood tests and other examinations if necessary to assess organ function and ensure there are no risks during anesthesia.

 

2. Anesthesia Preparation

After a preoperative examination, the patient will be prepared for anesthesia, which includes:

• Explanation of the procedure: The anesthesiologist will explain the type of anesthesia that will be given, whether it is general anesthesia (the type that makes the patient completely unconscious) or regional anesthesia (which blocks pain in a specific area).

• Physical preparation: Patients are asked to fast before the procedure to reduce the risk of aspiration (re-swallowing stomach contents).

• Medication preparation: Ensures all medications necessary for anesthesia are ready and available, including anesthetic agents, sedatives, and medications to treat possible allergic reactions.

 

3. Intraoperative Monitoring

During surgery, the anesthetist will carry out close monitoring to ensure patient safety, which includes:

• Vital signs monitoring: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen level in the blood.

• Anesthesia depth check: Assess whether the patient remains safe and does not feel pain during the procedure.

• Reactions to anesthetic drugs: Watch for any adverse reactions to the medication administered and adjust the dose if necessary.

 

4. Postoperative Care

Once the surgery is complete, the patient will be admitted to the recovery room to ensure that they recover well from the effects of the anesthesia, include:

• Monitoring: Ensure that the patient returns to consciousness slowly and is stable in vital signs.
  

• Administering oxygen: If necessary, administer oxygen to help the patient breathe well.

 

5. Postoperative Pain Management

Pain management is an important aspect of post-operative recovery. These include:

• Pain medication: Using analgesics, either given by mouth or by injection, to reduce the pain the patient feels.

• Regional techniques: Sometimes, regional anesthesia methods such as nerve blocks are used to provide better pain control after surgery.

• Multimodal approach: Combining different types of medications and therapies to optimize pain control and reduce dependence on opioids.

 

Conclusion
Anesthesia procedures are essential in ensuring patient comfort and safety during surgery. Through careful evaluation, good preparation, close monitoring, and effective post-operative pain management, anesthetists play a vital role in supporting the patient's healing process.

 

 

Reference

1. Miller RD, Pardo MC. Anesthesia. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2015.
2. Barash PG, Cullen BF, Stoelting RK, et al. Clinical Anesthesia. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013.
3. Apfelbaum JL, Gross JS, Harten N, et al. Practice Guidelines for Perioperative Anesthesia: An Update for the New Millennium. Anesthesiology. 2013;118(2):268-282.