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300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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My Child Has:
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Anesthesia
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Patients have anesthesia so they can undergo a painful procedure (like an operation or test) without feeling any pain. There are several types of anesthetics. With general anesthesia, patients are completely unaware of what is going on. People often speak of this as "being asleep." Anesthesia is different than regular sleep, though, in that the surgeon can perform an operation without waking up the patient. At the end of the operation, the anesthesiologist will make sure that the patient wakes up properly. Regional anesthesia refers to simply being numb in part of the body so the patient doesn't feel any pain. Regional anesthesia can either be used alone or combined with general anesthesia. Sedation, or monitored anesthesia care, provides pain relief and some drowsiness and frequently amnesia, without making the patient completely unconscious.
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General anesthesia is the most common type of anesthetic performed at Children's Hospital Boston. There are several different ways to start the anesthetic, a process referred to as "induction of anesthesia." One of the most common types of anesthetic induction used at Children's Hospital Boston is an inhalation induction. This simply means that the patient breathes himself to sleep. The patient, and when appropriate his mom or dad, will accompany the anesthesiologist to the operating room. There, the anesthesiologist will help hold a clear plastic mask over the child's nose and mouth. The mask is attached to the anesthesia machine which delivers oxygen and anesthetic gases. Since many children don't like the smell of the anesthetic gases, we can add nice smells to the mask. Choices include bubble gum, root beer, strawberry, grape, banana, raspberry, cherry, and a few other fruit flavors. While the patient is breathing through the mask, we will often tell stories or sing songs. The advantage of an inhalation induction is that there are no needles or anything else that is painful until after the child is completely anesthetized. There are disadvantages and risks related to inhalation inductions. One of or anesthesiologists will evaluate your child's clinical considerations and discuss an anesthetic plan tailored for your child. Some children dislike the smell of the anesthetic gases despite the flavorings we use.
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An intravenous (IV) induction is another way we induce anesthesia. This is done by giving medicines through a catheter into a vein. IV induction has the advantage of being odorless and is a much faster way to induce anesthesia. The biggest disadvantage is needing to place the IV catheter, which requires a needle. The needle pain can often be prevented or decreased by using a special cream. This is an ointment that numbs the skin if it is left on for an hour to an hour and a half.
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Less common ways to induce anesthesia are with intramuscular injections ("shots") or suppositories.
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Monitors help the anesthesiologist watch over the patient closely during the anesthetic. They help keep track of things like how fast the patient's heart is beating, his blood pressure, or how much oxygen is in his blood.
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A catheter is a small plastic tube and has several purposes. IV catheters are placed into a vein to give medicines and water. An epidural catheter is placed in the back to provide pain relief after some operations.
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The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. |
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Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. |
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