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PREPARING FOR ANESTHESIA The normal instructions with preparing for anesthesia are to let the patients know not to eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery. If you have surgery first thing in the morning, then these guidelines are not hard to comply with. But for surgeries later in the day for diabetic patients – then dangerous dehydration from lack of drinking water or low blood sugar from not eating can result.
There are now new guidelines by the American Society of Anesthesiologists:
Exceptions with taking medications include the following:
DRUG INTERACTIONS WITH ANESTHESIA Prescription Drugs There are many drugs that interact with anesthesia and include toxic levels, increased bleeding and other dangerous interactions. ALWAYS tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist everything you are taking, prescription and over the counter, so he or she can adjust your anesthesia with the levels of medication you might have in your bloodstream. Do not ever stop taking a prescription medication without first discussing this with your surgeon, anesthesiologist, or internist (at your pre operative check-up).
The following is a list of symptoms you might have that you are taking medication for that could cause potential complications with anesthesia: Blood Clots – greatly increases bleeding risks Infection – Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Flagyl Ulcers – Tagamet Depression – (any SSRI serotonin serum reuptake inhibitor) Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Elavil, Pamelor, Sinequan, Celexa, and any MAOI’s Pain Relief – Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, Oxycontin – the liver will metabolize the anesthesia faster and will require the anesthesiologist to give you more medication sooner. Insomnia – Ambien and Halcion High Blood Pressure – any beta blockers like Inderal or calcium channel blockers like Procardia. These drugs interfere with the normal regulation of the cardiovascular system during anesthesia. Immunosuppression – Cyclosporin and any steroid anti-inflammatories Diabetes – Metformin has been known to cause serious metabolic problems with general anesthesia. Arthritis – anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, any NSAIDs may increase bleeding. Irregular Heart Beat Epilepsy Tuberculosis Fungal Infections
POST ANESTHESIA RECOVERY
If you have received minimal sedation only, you may be able to go home once the procedure is finished. If you have received moderate or deep sedation, you will probably require more time to recover. Often this may be within an hour. In the recovery room, you will be monitored until the effects of the medication wear off. Any after-effects of the medication must be minimal or gone before you will be discharged from the facility to go home. You will not be allowed to drive yourself, so arrangements should be made for a responsible adult to provide you with transportation. If you think you may need some assistance, you might consider having someone stay with you on the day of surgery. If you have had anesthesia combined in any kind of form of sedation (oral or intravenous), you will need someone responsible to drive you home after surgery.
Standard post anesthesia instructions for 24 hours after leaving the hospital or surgery center include:
Your own Plastic Surgeon will have his or her own specific post operative instructions that you need to make sure you adhere to.
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