What Happens in the Operating Room During General Anesthesia

Once in the operating room, the anesthesiologist will place a variety of monitors on you to measure your blood pressure, heart function, breathing, and oxygen content in your blood. You will be given oxygen to breathe through a mask.

Then, you will be given anesthetic drugs through your IV (intravenous) line or through your lungs by breathing anesthetic gases. The anesthesiologist adjusts your medications to keep you asleep and pain free for the entire procedure. During surgery your condition is carefully monitored, evaluated and controlled. A member of the anesthesia team is with you throughout the surgical procedure.

At the end of the surgical procedure, the anesthetic agents are stopped and medications may be given to reverse the effects of earlier medications. You will awaken and be unaware of what happened during your surgery. You will then be transferred to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for recovery.

During your surgery and recovery time, your family and friends can stay in a special waiting area where the surgeon will usually meet with them at the end of the procedure.

What Happens After Surgery

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit
When your surgery is over you will be observed for a period of time in an area known as the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), formally known as the Recovery Room. There, the nursing staff will watch you closely. You should tell the nurse if you are having any pain, nausea or any other discomfort. Once your condition has met certain criteria, you will be discharged from the PACU.

Admission to the inpatient unit
Depending on your type of surgery and condition, you may have to stay overnight or longer in the hospital. If this is the case, you will be taken from the PACU to your hospital room. Your family and friends can join you in your room after you are taken there. Any personal belongings stored by hospital staff will be brought to your room.

Outpatient surgery
If your procedure does not require an overnight stay, you may go directly home or be brought to a special room for a short period of time. Your nurse will watch you closely until you are ready to go home.

Before going home you will be given instructions on how to take care of yourself there. Instructions should include use of any equipment, any special care or procedure you need to do, medications, any activity restrictions, diet, a follow-up appointment plan, any signs to watch for and to report, and a contact number for your doctor or nurse.