A 44-year-old member asked:
please answer! what really happens when you go under general anesthetic?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ionel Rad answered
Anesthesiology 17 years experience
General anesthesia : When patients undergo general anesthesia, they lose consciousness and they don't remember anything about the event. The loss of consciousness is reversible, and when the medications wear off, the patients wake up.
4393 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Norman Cohen commented
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
In addition to not remembering, general anesthesia also provides analgesia (pain control) and often muscle relaxation to prevent involuntary movement during surgery.
Mar 2, 2014
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Similar questions
A 47-year-old member asked:
How long before general anesthetic will leave your system?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Angelo Mitsos answered
Podiatry 40 years experience
Usually 24 hours: Usually within 24 hours, however different drugs are metabolized at different rates.
5742 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Do people have to stay overnight in hospital after general anesthetic?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Barry Rosen answered
General Surgery 34 years experience
No, but...: ...They should not drive (or "operate heavy machinery" like the labels always list). Furthermore, it is advisable to have an adult stay with them overnight.
5744 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
What are the chances of dying from general anesthetic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
Usually very low : The risks of death from anesthesia are usually very low. Of course medical conditions will increase your risk depending in the condition and the state of that condition.
5720 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Can people to be allergic to general anesthetic?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Karen Sibert answered
Anesthesiology 39 years experience
Yes and no!: Several different meds are used in the administration of general anesthesia (ga). You can be allergic to almost any of them. Rarely, a severe reaction to anesthesia gases runs in families, and those people should never have ga without special precautions. Your anesthesiologist has special training to select the ga that is right for you. Anyone can receive ga safely with the right choice of meds.
5710 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
How long should my dad be under if he just received general anesthetic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Karen Sibert answered
Anesthesiology 39 years experience
Depends on situation: The longer the procedure takes, the longer a patient will be sleepy afterwards. Elderly people take longer for medications to clear out of their systems. If your father needs pain medications after surgery, he will also feel sleepy from those. This is why it is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to wake up. But modern anesthesia medications usually wear off fairly soon.
5710 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Apr 14, 2014
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits
$15 per month
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.