People who smoke, are obese and have multiple medical conditions face a risk of complications during anesthesia, Gary Hankins, a retired certified registered nurse anesthetist, said during a Mini Medical School lecture in October.
Hankins worked for many years at DCH Regional Medical Center and NorthRiver Surgical Center, both in Tuscaloosa.
Mini Medical School lectures are presented by University Medical Center health-care providers to members of UA’s OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Program. The lectures are also open to the public.
Hankins said anesthesia uses medications to prevent pain during surgery or other medical procedures.
“Anesthesia can be administered by a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) or an anesthesiologist through several methods, such as a gas mask, an intravenous (IV) line or a catheter,” he said.
Hankins said there are four types of anesthesia:
- General anesthesia affects the whole body, making the person unconscious and unable to move. This type of anesthetic is given through an IV line or a gas mask for complex or long operations, including major heart surgeries and back surgeries.
- Monitored sedation, given through an IV line, relaxes the body but keeps the patient conscious. This type of anesthetic is used for procedures such as a colonoscopy or long dental work (tooth removals or corrective jaw surgery).
- Regional anesthesia and local anesthesia protect small parts of the body from pain. Examples of procedures using these two anesthetics include dental work (filling a cavity) or cesarean sections for childbirth. Regional anesthesia is given through an injection or a catheter. Local anesthesia is given through an injection, lotion, skin patch or eye drops.
“Anesthesia is typically safe, but people can experience complications, such as allergic reactions, breathing problems and confusion after surgery,” said Hankins. “Talking with your primary care doctor before your surgery can help determine if you’re at risk for complications with anesthesia.”