General Anesthesia
General anesthesia uses medicine to put you into a sleep deep enough that you won't feel or remember anything during surgery. A breathing tube or other airway device may be used, and you are closely monitored until you wake up.
Anesthesia: What Patients Should Know
Anesthesia uses medicine to keep you comfortable during surgery or a procedure. There are several types, and the right one depends on your health and the procedure you're having. This page gives a short, plain-language overview of the main types of anesthesia. It is general information, not medical advice.
Types of Anesthesia
Sedation / Monitored Anesthesia Care
Sedation can range from mild to moderate to heavy, depending on your needs and the procedure. With mild sedation, you feel relaxed and can respond normally. With moderate sedation, you feel drowsy and may remember little afterward. With heavy sedation, you are in a sleep-like state but usually breathe on your own. The medicine can be given in different ways, and your vital signs are watched throughout. This is often called monitored anesthesia care, or MAC.
Spinal Anesthesia
An injection of numbing medicine in the lower back numbs the lower part of the body. You may stay awake or also receive sedation to help you relax.
Epidural Anesthesia
A small catheter is inserted into the epidural space in your spinal canal to create numbness in parts of your body. The catheter allows numbing and pain-relieving medicines to be given during surgery and, if needed, afterward to help control pain. Epidurals can be placed at different levels of the spine, depending on the area that needs to be numbed. You may stay awake or also receive sedation to help you relax.
Nerve Block
Numbing medicine is placed near the nerves that supply the area having surgery, such as a shoulder, arm, knee, or foot. This can help reduce pain during surgery and possibly for several days afterward. How long the numbness lasts varies from person to person.
Local Anesthesia
Numbing medicine is injected into or applied to one small area. You stay awake and may feel pressure, but should not feel sharp pain in that spot. It is commonly used for minor procedures.
Your care team will discuss which option is right for you and give you specific instructions.
In an emergency, call 911.
Questions?
This website is not for patient consultations or medical advice. For questions about your own procedure, call the facility or care team handling your care. To be seen for pain management, contact a partner hospital listed on our For Patients page. For general questions about GSAP, contact us. Please don't send symptoms or other health information through this website.
For hospitals and facilities
See anesthesia coverage and the types of anesthesia we provide.