Dr. Merrie Anne Hamburg-Eylers

It sounds like your family member may have been given fentanyl and midazolam instead of the much shorter acting Propofol. Only Anesthesiologists and Emergency Medicine physicians may administer that.

Anesthesia is safer than it has ever been and drugs are very short acting. I always give the mother a choice. Usually I advise to pump once and discard that milk.

It shouldn't if you do not have liver disease, and you still remained at least 6-8 hours prior to your surgery. Criteria include morbid obesity, intake of solid food, would require the full 8 hrs prior to surgery +

Did you have an epidural or a spinal? Most often your first delivery is with an epidural. If you have been scheduled for a certain day for your C-section a spinal is more likely. Either way the number of epidurals does not increase the risk. Much better for Mom to have spinal or epidural for delivery. You can experience the joy of holding your precious child right away.

The current anesthesthetics are short acting and very little amounts stay in body.
If you are anemic, low blood count, due to blood loss before the procedure may be a cause for your symptoms. See your gynecologist to check your hemoglobin (red cell count) . If these are normal you should consult an internal medicine Doctor to get a thorough exam and lab work.

Yes it was appropriate. The patient must be still to get the best results. Children are often fearful when away from the parents and the Cat scanner is noisy. Completely safe to do with general anesthesia. A well trained pediatric anesthesia physician or CRNA will be present and monitoring all vital signs.

First of all the anesthesiologist is in control of the anesthetic. We have sophisticated monitors that give us minute to minute information about the level of anesthesia. We are well trained for 4 yesrs after medical school. Overdose is possible but short lived with vigilant monitoring. Anesthesia is safer than it has ever been. We use short-acting medications and we have reversal agents and when we turn the anesthetic gas off it is breathed out with oxygen at high flow.

Following instructions from pre operative interview is helpful. Nothing by mouth, including water for at least 8 hours is required to prevent stomach contents going into the lung, known as aspiration. The stomach has a very low pH, similar to a very strong acid. The Anesthesiologist will interview you either a few days before or day of surgery. An IV will be started and all drugs will go through the IV. There may be s skin prep on surgical area may be done in the pre op area. You will see your surgeon prior to going to operating room. You might receive a medicine to relax you, we understand most people are anxious about having surgery. The anesthesia care giver will inject medications to put you to sleep. Either a soft airway or tube in windpipe is used and the breathing is controlled with a ventilator. You will be positioned safely on OR table, most places use warmed air to keep your temperature normal. When you awaken you should had nacotics injected for pain control and/or possibly a nerve block will be done with ultrasound guidence for pain control. Once turning the gas off you will awaken and be groggy and sleepy

The medicine only stays in the body for a specific amount of time without any left behind.

The paralyzing drugs are required for most procedures but not all. The paralyzing agents are fully reversable except in a person with a rare disorder. Family history is important for decision making. The worst scenario with this disorder is that the patient will remain under anesthesia until the paralyzing agent has worn off. The patient will be comfortable during this time frame.

Anesthesia is safe in the proper hands. I would recommend a maxillofacial surgeon. They are trained in anesthesia during residency and they are also trained to do very complex procedures as well.

I would suggest placing a scopolomine patch behind your ear only if you have motion sickness. It is sometimes not asked by all Anesthesia providers. I would also suggest asking for the antinausea medications before and after surgery.

It could be physician preference, age related contraindication, or short outpatient procedure.

There is a published pamphlet available from the American Association of Anesthesiologists in regard to herbals and over the counter drugs. The preoperative clinic should be able to answer your questions and/or your Anesthesia provider. Surgeons can refer you to an anesthesia provider they ues as well to answer your questions in lieu of a preop clinic.