Plastic Surgery: Q&A
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Is General Anesthesia Safer Than Sedation?
First of all, thank you for your patience and kindness. I have been told that general anesthesia is safer because during sedation, the patient can stop breathing and the heart rate is not monitored. Is that true or it depends on the individual?
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9 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Anna Paula
in Vienna
+3
Both General Anesthesia and IV Sedation Are Safe
General anesthesia and IV sedation are both very safe and effective. Here are some things to think about:
Very Important
Make sure that you will be completely monitored including O2 saturation, pulse, blood pressure, CO2 level in exhaled air, core temperature and EKG.
For any procedures (over 2 hours) sequential compression stockings are used to help decrese the risk of blood clots.
Make sure their is a crash cart for resusitation if needed.
Make sure the center has Dantrolene in...
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General Anesthesia vs Sedation for Cosmetic Surgery
General anesthesia isn't what it used to be. Previously an endotracheal tube was placed into the trachea requiring a paralytic and full sedation. Nowadays a patient is given just enough sedation to be asleep but still breathing then an LMA is placed into the back of the throat. Although the patient is under "general anesthesia" they are still breathing on their own and the airway is protected.
With sedation all monitoring is the same as far as cardiac rhythm, blood pressure,...
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Anesthesia for Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Both IV sedation (twilight) and general anesthesia are used commonly for cosmetic or plastic surgery. Regardless of technique, the patient's vital signs must be monitored, which include but not limited to heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. In addition, both types of anesthesia should be provided by board-certified anesthesiologist.
Your specific type of anesthesia should be discussed with your plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist. One anesthesia method is not necessarily better...
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Type of Anesthesia
It really depends on what is being done and how long it will take. In general, I prefer general anesthesia because I like the anesthesiologist to be controlling the patients airway, rather trying to play a tight rope between not having the patient feel anything and allowing the patient to breath on their own.
Hope that helps.
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Choice of anesthesia: general or local
There are several different factors tham play a role in deciding whether one anesthetic technique is safer than another. However, as a surgeon, I generally prefer to have an anesthesiologist make the decision with the patient unless the procedure is relatively minor and can be accomplished under straight local or local with oral sedation.
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Tough to measure but...
I think for mild sedation ( a small dose of say valium), would be safest. However, my preference (agian, others may disagree) would be general anesthesia over deep sedation. Although both are monitored, it is reassuring that the airway is controlled under general.
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Sedation versus general anesthesia
For both sedation and general anesthesia, patients are monitored carefully. Patients seem to worry alot about general anesthesia. However, it is probably safer than sedation for longer cases and controlling the airway is performed during general anesthesia where patients undergoing sedation may fluctuate from breathing well to being oversedated.
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Safety of general anesthesia vs sedation or twilight anesthesia
If you are sedated enough to be asleep, technically you are under a general anesthetic (GA) without your airway protected. HR and BP and oxygen levels are monitored in both situations along with many other safety parameters. Rather than ride a roller coaster of not enough sedation to too much sedation, most physician anesthesiologists prefer a light general anesthetic with an LMA which is a mask airway in the mouth and not down the throat. That way, you will be totally comfortable...
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Safety of general anesthesia
The reason that you may have heard that general anesthesia is safer than sedation has nothing to do with monitoring heart rate really. Heart rate is monitored in both situations. Some anesthesiologists consider it safer because during general anesthesia your airway is protected with either a tube or mask (LMA or Laryngeal Mask Airway) placed in your throat. So, if you were to stop breathing during surgery (from paralysis or heavy sedatives) the anesthesiologist still has a way to...
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