Patient physiology Some patients may be more resistant to the effects of anesthetics than others; factors such as younger age, obesity, tobacco smoking, or long-term use of certain drugs (alcohol, opiates, or amphetamines) may increase the anesthetic dose needed to produce unconsciousness.
People react to medications differently and anesthesia is no exception. It's possible that you're body is removing the numbing agent out of your system too quickly, which results in the numbing effects wearing off sooner than you and your dentist had hoped.
Very rarely — in only one or two of every 1,000 medical procedures involving general anesthesia — a patient may become aware or conscious.
In addition to the elderly, people who have conditions such as heart disease (especially congestive heart failure), Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease, or who have had a stroke before are also more at risk. It's important to tell the anesthesiologist if you have any of these conditions.
Some people may have a naturally higher threshold for anaesthesia, meaning that the drugs don't reduce the brain's activity enough to dim the light of consciousness.
There is continuous monitoring of the electrical activity in your heart, the amount of oxygen in your blood, your pulse rate, and blood pressure. Sometimes a device is used to monitor your brain waves while 'asleep', giving the doctor more detailed information about your level of unconsciousness.
Anesthesia is the use of medicine to prevent discomfort during surgery or medical procedures. Most people do well with anesthesia (pronounced: an-ess-THEE-zhuh) and have no problems afterward.
The process of waking up from anesthesia is known as emergence. During emergence, the anesthesiologist will slowly reduce the amount of anesthetic drugs in the body. This helps to reduce the intensity of the effects of anesthesia and allows the patient to regain consciousness.
Some patients may be more resistant to the effects of anesthetics than others; factors such as younger age, obesity, tobacco smoking, or long-term use of certain drugs (alcohol, opiates, or amphetamines) may increase the anesthetic dose needed to produce unconsciousness.
Due to the uncertainty about the effects of exposure to anesthesia in childhood, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises that elective (not mandatory for health) surgery and anesthesia be delayed until after 3 years of age when possible.
Your anaesthetist will want to see if you have an increased risk for damage to teeth before the anaesthetic starts. This is more likely in people with teeth in poor condition or in people with dental work such as crowns or bridges.
Patient-Related Risk Factors
Chronic substance abuse may contribute to acquired resistance to anesthetics. Long-term use of commonly abused substances, including alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, may increase anesthetic requirements, increasing the risk of AAGA.
What causes an allergic reaction during anesthesia? An allergic reaction during anesthesia is just like any other allergic reaction to a medication: It is caused by an overreaction of the immune system that is triggered by the medication.
Malignant hyperthermia is a severe reaction to certain drugs used for anesthesia. This severe reaction typically includes a dangerously high body temperature, rigid muscles or spasms, a rapid heart rate, and other symptoms.
The process of waking up from anesthesia is known as emergence. During emergence, the anesthesiologist will slowly reduce the amount of anesthetic drugs in the body. This helps to reduce the intensity of the effects of anesthesia and allows the patient to regain consciousness.
Patients with an abnormal brain. For example, patients with dementia, delirium, congenital developmental delay, or any organic brain syndrome may experience increased post-operative sedation due to exaggerated effects of the anesthetic medications on their brains.
There is continuous monitoring of the electrical activity in your heart, the amount of oxygen in your blood, your pulse rate, and blood pressure. Sometimes a device is used to monitor your brain waves while 'asleep', giving the doctor more detailed information about your level of unconsciousness.