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Patient
Frequently Asked Questions & Resources
What Is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is freedom from pain. Each year, more than 26 million people in
the United States undergo some form of medical treatment requiring
anesthesia. Anesthesia, in the hands of qualified professionals like
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, is a safe and effective means of
alleviating pain during nearly every type of medical procedure. Anesthesia
care is not confined to surgery alone. The process also refers to
activities that take place both before and after an anesthetic is given.
Who Administers Anesthesia?
In the majority of cases, anesthesia is administered by a Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). CRNAs work with your surgeon, dentist
or podiatrist, and may work with an anesthesiologist (physician
anesthetist). CRNAs are advanced practice nurses with specialized
graduate-level education in anesthesiology. For more than 100 years, nurse
anesthetists have been administering anesthesia in all types of surgical
cases, using all anesthetic techniques and practicing in every setting in
which anesthesia is administered.
Are There
Different Types of Anesthesia?
There are three basic types of anesthesia
- General anesthesia produces a loss of
sensation throughout the entire body.
- Regional anesthesia produces a loss of
sensation to a specific region of the body.
- Local anesthesia produces a loss of
sensation to a small specific area of the body.
A preoperative interview with your
anesthesia professional will determine which anesthetic is best for you.
Will a Nurse Anesthetist Stay With Me Throughout Surgery?
The nurse anesthetist stays with you for the entire procedure, constantly
monitoring every important function of your body and individually
modifying your anesthetic to ensure your maximum safety and comfort.
Having Anesthesia?
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has prepared a
comprehensive list of what to do and what to expect.
CLICK
HERE to review the list.
Want to Know More About Anesthesia Safety?
Patient safety is very important to both patient and nurse anesthetists.
AANA has setup a special
AnesthesiaPatientSafety.com to provide and promote patient safety
information and issues.
Used with permission of
the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
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