Monitored anesthesia care
This is a type of sedation administered through the IV that helps alleviate anxiety and discomfort. Your level of sedation will vary according to your procedure and medical conditions. Your provider will carefully monitor your breathing pattern and vital signs. Sometimes this sedation needs to be increased to general anesthesia.
spinal anesthesia
You will be positioned (usually sitting up) and the middle part of your lower back will be examined. This will be cleaned and prepared for the procedure. Medicine may be given through the IV to help you relax and local anesthetic will be used to numb the area and maximize your comfort.
Only a small amount of medication is required to produce hours of profound numbness from the abdomen and below. You will be repositioned lying down and your level of sedation will usually be increased.
general anesthesia
You will be asked to take some deep breaths through a mask to fill your lungs with more oxygen. Your anesthetic team will administer several medications through your IV that cause you to lose consciousness.
When you are unconscious, a breathing tube will be placed behind your tongue in the back of your mouth. This will enable you to breathe safely during the operation and it will optimize conditions for your surgeon.