How strong of a knockout is general anesthetics ?

[mzkhadir]

How strong of a knockout is general anesthetics ?

 

[dug777]

well, so strong that you can't feel yourself being chopped open/things like teeth ripped out...

 

[RyanB18]

general anesthetic = blissful dreamstate

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: RyanB18
general anesthetic = blissful dreamstate

for how long ?

 

[Mrvile]

Wait are you even awake for this? Or do you mean local anesthetics?

 

[MazerRackham]

I think General Mayhem is tougher though.

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Wait are you even awake for this? Or do you mean local anesthetics?

when I was talking to the nurse, she said general anesthetics.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Wait are you even awake for this? Or do you mean local anesthetics?

when I was talking to the nurse, she said general anesthetics.

You don't remember anything. You don't dream, at least not that you can remember.

You are as close to dead as you can get and still have a heartbeat.

 

[Goosemaster]

All i know is that when my wisdom teeth were taken out htye had put me under...

One minute I am chatting with the nurse..then another i get a mask put over my face...


All I remember is waking uo like 4 hours later in ummm,...."fvking disarray" wondering who the fvk I was and why I had about 10 pounds of sh!t iin my mouth....

needless to say, I found it to be pretty fvking effective..

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: dug777
well, so strong that you can't feel yourself being chopped open/things like teeth ripped out...

Edit: And to mzkhadir, I think almost as long as the doctor wants you out..I mean..I doubt days or anything..but..many hours.

 

[Blastomyces]

<--- Anesthesiologist

OK, by general anesthesia you're referring to becoming both anesthesized so you dont feel pain, relaxed to loosen up muscles, and likely hypnotized/amnestized(sp?) to prevent short term memories. All of these are done chemically by various agents and as it turns out, it is remarkably safe. The exact type and medications used will be determined by your doctor prior to surgery so let them know about your pain tolerance and wishes. If you want to be fully knocked out we can do that, or if you want to be awake but numbed up over a part of your body, we can do that to. WHen under full general anesthesia, your body makes reactions to pain, (i.e. your blood pressure can rise, your muscles can twitch, etc..) but since you arent forming memories, you likely wont remember anything that goes on. You should also be receiveing pain medications to blunt these responses during your procedure. Let me know if you want any more detailed info.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
I think General Mayhem is tougher though.

I remember him when he was a colonel.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
<--- Anesthesiologist

OK, by general anesthesia you're referring to becoming both anesthesized so you dont feel pain, relaxed to loosen up muscles, and likely hypnotized/amnestized(sp?) to prevent short term memories. All of these are done chemically by various agents and as it turns out, it is remarkably safe. The exact type and medications used will be determined by your doctor prior to surgery so let them know about your pain tolerance and wishes. If you want to be fully knocked out we can do that, or if you want to be awake but numbed up over a part of your body, we can do that to. WHen under full general anesthesia, your body makes reactions to pain, (i.e. your blood pressure can rise, your muscles can twitch, etc..) but since you arent forming memories, you likely wont remember anything that goes on. You should also be receiveing pain medications to blunt these responses during your procedure. Let me know if you want any more detailed info.

We have a gas passer in the group? Good to know.

 

[crab]

Well, you're pretty much dead during...kept alive by a ventilator. You're pretty much useless for a day afterwards.

I love the feeling anesthesia gives just as you're on your way to lala land.

 

[DAWeinG]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
<--- Anesthesiologist

OK, by general anesthesia you're referring to becoming both anesthesized so you dont feel pain, relaxed to loosen up muscles, and likely hypnotized/amnestized(sp?) to prevent short term memories. All of these are done chemically by various agents and as it turns out, it is remarkably safe. The exact type and medications used will be determined by your doctor prior to surgery so let them know about your pain tolerance and wishes. If you want to be fully knocked out we can do that, or if you want to be awake but numbed up over a part of your body, we can do that to. WHen under full general anesthesia, your body makes reactions to pain, (i.e. your blood pressure can rise, your muscles can twitch, etc..) but since you arent forming memories, you likely wont remember anything that goes on. You should also be receiveing pain medications to blunt these responses during your procedure. Let me know if you want any more detailed info.

I was at the USC/LAC ER chatting with a med student and he told me that some doctors administer a drug where the patient isn't fully knocked out. In this state, the body responds to pain but it won't "hurt" because you won't remember it. Is this what you're talking about in the latter part of your response?

 

[Blastomyces]

If youre in the ER im guessing its Ketamine that they're using(yes, the same drug abused by teens everywhere). It induces a catatonic/euphoric state where you still feel and react to pain, but your brain is so happy that it doesnt really care. We dont use it in the OR very much. We typically use Versed(midazolam), works great, makes people very relaxed and happy, and wears off pretty quickly.

 

[msparish]

Blastomyces, have you ever had someone wake up during a surgery? About 10-12 years ago I had on operation on my ankle, and I swear I woke up during it. I opened my eyes and it was very, very bright. They said something...I can't remember what, but it had to do with the fact that they thought I was about to vomit. Someone reached down, turned my head and put a towl next to me...I vomited, and assume I went back to sleep because that is all I remember. I don't remember feeling any pain either.

Edit: For reference, I was incapble of moving while I was "awake."

 

[Mrvile]

That's fvcking scary...my bio teacher told me about this and it's crazy. They really give you a medication that makes you forget, so basically you're conscious and feeling pain while you get the surgery, but you don't remember it. So basically you black out and "fall asleep." But you were up and about during the operation. Scary huh? Taking away part of your life that you were conscious through is weird stuff.

Isn't that what they do when you get a colonoscopy too?

 

[mzkhadir]

Thank you for your answers.

I am going to stop reading answers now before I have to cancel because I am shared to go into surgery.

 

[Blastomyces]

Ive never seen someone wake up during surgery (I usually tape eyes shut though to prevent them from drying out) though it theoretically can happen if the anesthesia gets too light. Usually the patient will start bucking from the surgery itself which is a signal to increase the anesthesia, but this can be blocked if a local or regional was used as well. Ive seen patients wake up a little too early (when the surgery was already done and dressing were being applied) but Ive never seen anyone wake up in the middle. Nothing a little bit of Fentayl/Versed wont cure

 

[msparish]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
Thank you for your answers.

I am going to stop reading answers now before I have to cancel because I am shared to go into surgery.

Oh, don't worry about it. It's very, very safe and you won't feel a thing. For my surgeries, when they start putting you out they've told me to count down from 10. You try and fight it, but I get to about 8. Next thing you know you're in the recovery room with a nurse to take care of you if you need anything. However, the only thing you'll want is sleep because you'll be so tired.

All in all, I give general anesthesia :thumbsup:

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: RyanB18
general anesthetic = blissful dreamstate

True dat

I had my wisdom teeth removed and didn't remember a thing. I felt drunk but not sick. It was great! Lasted only about 30 minutes though IIRC.

 

[msparish]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
Ive never seen someone wake up during surgery (I usually tape eyes shut though to prevent them from drying out) though it theoretically can happen if the anesthesia gets too light. Usually the patient will start bucking from the surgery itself which is a signal to increase the anesthesia, but this can be blocked if a local or regional was used as well. Ive seen patients wake up a little too early (when the surgery was already done and dressing were being applied) but Ive never seen anyone wake up in the middle. Nothing a little bit of Fentayl/Versed wont cure

For me they used some sort of jelly...almost like vaseline over my eyes to keep them moist. Anyway, the memory is so blurry (plus I'm legally blind without my contacts), so I don't really know what happened. The only reason I think I was still in surgery is because it seems as if there were several people there...they said something like "he's up"...and it was still so bright, like I was still under the light on the operating table. Anyway, thanks.

 

[AaronB]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
<--- Anesthesiologist

OK, by general anesthesia you're referring to becoming both anesthesized so you dont feel pain, relaxed to loosen up muscles, and likely hypnotized/amnestized(sp?) to prevent short term memories. All of these are done chemically by various agents and as it turns out, it is remarkably safe. The exact type and medications used will be determined by your doctor prior to surgery so let them know about your pain tolerance and wishes. If you want to be fully knocked out we can do that, or if you want to be awake but numbed up over a part of your body, we can do that to. WHen under full general anesthesia, your body makes reactions to pain, (i.e. your blood pressure can rise, your muscles can twitch, etc..) but since you arent forming memories, you likely wont remember anything that goes on. You should also be receiveing pain medications to blunt these responses during your procedure. Let me know if you want any more detailed info.

This isn't really a practical question but what is the maximum amount of time a patient could be kept "under" without serious side effects.

By under I mean asleep and not remembering a thing. Is there some cumulative side effect that limits the time?

 

[OffTopic1]

depends on type of anesthetic/age/physical condition/weight/intravenously/inhalation/type of surgery.

<-- GF is a post surgery RN.