General Anesthesia

Alternate Names : Total Anesthesia

What happens right after the procedure?

The person is taken to an area called the surgery recovery room after the procedure. When the person can breathe independently, the ventilator is turned off. It may take several minutes for the person to wake up and he or she may feel groggy at first. Doctors and nurses monitor the person in the recovery room. Pain medications are given as needed. Gradually, the person wakes up and begins the recovery process.

The person may need to stay in the hospital for a few days to recover from the procedure. Often the person can go home after a few hours. The person must be stable and feel well enough to go home, and someone must be available to drive the person home. The medications cause coordination problems and slowed reflexes for several hours after surgery.