Information and Advice on Anesthesia

Learn the most important facts about spinal anesthesia, what to expect, side effects, and potential complications to prepare for your surgery.

Would it scare you to know that no one really knows how anesthesia gases work? As amazing as it is, it's true, as explained here by a physician anesthesiologist.

Bladder retention after general anesthesia is fairly common. Find out why this happens. Understand your own risk factors and related complications from a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Lidocaine is commonly used for local anesthesia. While its use is safe when dosing guidelines are followed, there are some risks, complications, and potential toxicity issues to understand.

As an anesthesiologist, I sometimes hear patients ask me, "Are you going to use the 'Michael Jackson Drug' on me?" Propofol is is safe and effective when administered by qualified professionals.

Acid reflux under anesthesia can lead to aspiration pneumonia and lung damage. Learn from an anesthesiologist how to protect yourself from these complications.

Femoral nerve blocks are useful for knee and thigh surgery. An anesthesiologist explains the technique, uses, and risks of the commonly used femoral nerve block.

Regional anesthesia refers to numbing a region of the body, rather than the whole body. An anesthesiologist discusses different techniques to induce regional anesthesia.

Post-spinal anesthesia side effects can result from the needles, the technique, or the medications used. Most side effects are minor and short-lived.

One of the most important—and dangerous—tasks assigned to an anesthesiologist is securing the airway of the unconscious patient. Find out how and why this is done from a certified anesthesiologist.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid pain medication, is a powerful drug. Its use in the operating room is routine and valuable, as explained in this article. Abuse and addiction with fentanyl are dangerous and often deadly, even with just one use.

Being awake under anesthesia is a serious and traumatic event. A board-certified anesthesiologist discusses this frightening complication, risk factors, and why it most likely won't happen to you.

An anesthesiologist explains why your muscles sometimes need to be reversibly paralyzed during anesthesia. Neuromuscular blocking agents are used to achieve this goal. Learn how these drugs work to keep muscles from moving.

Diabetes is a systemic disease affecting the whole body. Both type I and type II diabetes present risks that must be considered by the anesthesiologist before, during, and after surgery.

Know what to expect and how to prevent and/or treat the most common after-effects of anesthesia, including nausea, sore throat, confusion, muscle aches, itching, and emotional outbursts.

It's scary to hear a drug referred to as a "paralytic," but sometimes their administration is medically necessary. Neuromuscular blocking agents are used to make anesthesia and surgery safer.