Anesthesia is a medical treatment that prevents patients from feeling pain during surgery. It allows people to have procedures that lead to healthier and longer lives.
To produce anesthesia, doctors use drugs called anesthetics. Scientists have developed a collection of anesthetic drugs with different effects. These drugs include general, regional, and local anesthetics. General anesthetics put patients to sleep during the procedure. Local and regional anesthetics just numb part of the body and allow patients to remain awake during the procedure.
Depending on the type of pain relief needed, doctors deliver anesthetics by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or skin patch.
Anesthesiologists are doctors who carefully monitor patients throughout surgery and during recovery. They use highly advanced electronic devices that constantly display patients’ blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, heart function, and breathing patterns. These devices have dramatically improved the safety of general anesthesia. They also make it possible to operate on many patients who used to be considered too sick to have surgery.
Anesthesiologists also provide pain relief for less invasive procedures, such as those used to examine blood vessels and internal organs (endoscopy) and during labor and delivery.
As experts in pain management, anesthesiologists may advise patients and their doctors on how to manage pain.
The Anesthesia Department at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Riyadh has excellent well trained and highly qualified anesthesiologist who are covering in hospital services. For example, delivery suit, pain management, emergency case, lifesaving conditions.
Once your surgery is scheduled, a nurse will call you to determine if you need a pre-anesthesia testing appointment, which will help ensure you are medically ready on the day of surgery. Depending on your medical condition and procedure, your nurse may conduct the appointment via phone or in person.
To keep you safe, there are special guidelines about when to stop eating and drinking. Your care team will advise you on when to stop eating or drinking before a procedure to ensure your safety and prevent nausea.
Please note that some surgeries may require you to fast. Be sure to follow the instructions from your surgeon or anesthesia team.
In general, you should refrain from eating solid foods within eight hours of your scheduled arrival time.
If you are taking medications, check with your doctor or the preoperative nurse to see whether you need to take anything on the day of surgery. You may be instructed to change your medication schedule or STOP taking certain medications, depending on your procedure and medical history.