“Do you have to be intubated for general anesthesia?”
My daughter needs surgery and is nervous about anesthesia. I want to know if you have to be intubated for general anesthesia?
9 Answers
All depends upon procedure. There are short procedures that could be done with mask or lma
It depends on the type of surgery that your daughter is having. Often, an LMA (laryngeal mask airway) will suffice which does not involve intubation. If she is having abdominal surgery, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, she will most likely require intubation. The anesthesiologist will decide which method is the safest for your daughter.
Depends on the type and the location of surgery. Most, if not all of intraabdominal, thoracic and oropharyngeal procedures require intubation to protect the airways and breathing. Minor surgeries on the skin surface can usually be performed without intubation.
No. Intubation need is determined by the medical history of the patient and the procedure.
In most cases, yes, but it depends on the type of surgery being performed, the length of time, past airway issues, general health, and other factors. The surgeon should plan a visit for you with the anesthesiologist to answer those questions for you.
With anesthesia, as well as any medical procedure or treatment, physicians are trained to consider the risks, benefits, and alternatives when formulating an anesthesia care plan. Current guidelines ask that we do this in conjunction with the patient and/or the patient’s advocates. Depending on your daughter’s physical condition and medical problems, and considering the type of surgery she may be having, there may be alternatives to general anesthesia or to general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. One alternative to endotracheal intubation during general anesthesia might be use of a laryngeal mask airway LMA or other supraglottic airway device. You might want to consult with your anesthesia care team prior to surgery to see if this approach would be appropriate for her specific needs.
You do not have to be intubated for all General anesthetic.
Depending on your daughter's age and which procedure is performed, she may or may not require intubation. For example, abdominal surgery usually involves administration of muscle relaxants for relaxation if the abdominal wall, which usually is an indication for intubation.
Yes
