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• I will have surgery under general anesthesia.  Can I prevent constipation after anesthesia? Generally speaking, General anesthesia alone wouldn't cause significant constipation.  Several main factors contributing to the constipation are dehydration, and pain medication (narcotics, such as Percocet, Oxycodone). If a surgery involves opening up the abdomen, with the surgeon's manipulation of the bowels, the bowel movements will be stopped for a period of time (up to several days). Then with recovery of the bowel, a constipation may be expected.  A small surgery, for example, a breast biopsy, doesn't involve bowel manipulation, or strong pain medication, the constipation is very unlikely. To help alleviate the constipation after surgery, the following may be helpful: 
  a) postop dehydration: if allowed, drinking ample amounts of water after surgery may be effective to ease constipation.
  b) If a strong narcotic pain medication is needed after surgery, constipation is expected without any treatment. Constipation is the side effect of this type of strong pain medication. Therefore, stool softeners are essential to take with the pain medication.

• What is it like waking up from general anesthesia?
  Waking up from General Anesthesia should feel like waking up from a good night's sleep. Depending on the procedures, sometimes, the surgical pain annoys people. Otherwise, it should be a pleasant experience. 

• How long does vomiting last after general anesthesia?
  It depends on the individual's physical condition. Generally, it lasts less than 24 hours if it's caused by general anesthesia. Referring to a small set of people, who are super-sensitive to general anesthesia, the vomiting can last several days. Additionally, strong pain medication (such as oxycodone) carries the side effect of nausea and may cause further vomiting. 

• General anesthesia
  Let the anesthesiologist know about your OSA. There is an ongoing protocol to help this situation. Be prepared to stay in the hospital after surgery several hours longer. 

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• Can you be awake during ear surgery?
  No. It is too stimulating. It's risky sometimes during surgery if the patient can't stay still. Therefore, typically, a patient has general anesthesia for ear surgery. 

• Sleep apnea and surgery

  The sleep apnea needs to be looked into, before the surgery. The recovery will be more challenging without a device 

• What type of sedation is used for ear surgery?
  Most times, it’s general anesthesia. Sedation may not be adequate 

• Is colon surgery done with local anesthesia?

  No. Colon surgery has to be done under general anesthesia. 

• What type of anesthesia is used for tonsil surgery?

  General anesthesia with endotracheal intubation 

• What are the effects of anesthesia along with meth?

  People with hypopituitarism are on steroid supplements. Please contact endocrinologists who follow up this condition and prescribe the supplements. It’s not appropriate to stop steroid before surgery, especially when the medication has been taken for more than three months. 

• What anesthesia is used for lung surgery?

  It has to be general anesthesia. Depending on your medical condition, you may: a) Be kept intubated after surgery for you to recover. If this happens, you'll be in ICU for monitoring. b) Have an arterial line (iv in the artery at the wrist) to monitor your blood pressure closely. This is done after you're put to sleep. Best regards, 

• Are you put to sleep for liposuction?

  Yes, the patient who needs liposuction is put to sleep. Depending on how big the area is, it can be done either with sedation or general anesthesia. The larger the area, the more discomfort it may be, and the more likely general anesthesia is going to be applied. Best regards, 

• Do you get sedated for hand surgery?

  For hand surgery, depending on how much to be operated, it can be pure local anesthesia without any sedation, for example, sometimes, the carpal tunnel release can be done this way. For more involved surgery, it can be: a) sedation; b) sedation plus nerve block; c) or general anesthesia 

• What anesthesia is used for laparoscopic hernia surgery?

  Laparoscopic procedure requires general anesthesia with intubation.  

• What anesthesia is used for foot surgery?

  Depending on the surgeon, it can be done either local anesthesia plus sedation, or general anesthesia. 

• How long does an epidural last for knee surgery?
  Typically, knee surgery is not handled by epidural anesthesia. Instead, it’s under spinal anesthesia. Typically, spinal anesthesia lasts 2-3 hours which is adequate to cover the surgery. If it’s under epidural, it lasts much longer according to the need of the surgery team, since it can be reduced all the time. 

• How should I sleep after spinal anesthesia?
  The current spinal anesthesia is safe, using very small gauged needle. The chance to develop spinal headache is extremely low. There shouldn’t be any special precaution. 

• How long does it take to wake up after breast augmentation?

  Five to ten minutes, generally. 30-60 min in the recovery room as a regulatory requirement.