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What are the effects of anesthesia on the brain?

I will have surgery under general anesthesia. What are the effects of anesthesia on the brain?

3 Answers

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There are short term and long term ( in some cases ) effects to anesthesia in the brain.
Short term: unconscious, mood changes, memory impairment and delayed cognitive function

Long term: post op delirium and cognitive decline which is considered rare. Generally anesthesia is safe in healthy adults and cognitive effects are temporary
As a former surgery patient myself and PACU nurse working with anesthesia, I would love to answer this question! Anesthesia puts your brain into a deep, controlled sleep so you don’t feel pain or remember the surgery.

First, general anesthesia makes you unconscious. It affects areas of your brain that help you stay awake and aware, essentially "shutting down" those parts for a while. You won’t know what’s happening during the procedure. Once the anesthesia wears off, the brain "wakes up," and you regain consciousness. Sometimes, people might feel confused or tired for a short time after the surgery, but this usually goes away after some rest.

Secondly, the drugs used in anesthesia interfere with the way your brain and nerves communicate. They stop the signals that tell your body to feel pain or be aware of what’s going on, making you unaware of the surgery.

Lastly, Anesthesia also affects the part of your brain responsible for making memories, called the hippocampus. This is why you won’t remember what happened during the surgery.

While general anesthesia makes you feel like you’re sleeping deeply, it actually changes how your brain works temporarily. Once the drugs leave your system, your brain returns to normal, and you’re back to your regular self.