What's your anesthesia preference?

Imagine you are going to get an operation and given all the options possible for your anesthesia:

-put under completely through iv.

-put under with sevoflorine gas from a mask.

-epidural

-specify if any other option you like.

Which one would you choose and why?

It would depend on the process and my belief in the competance of the medical team ... I sure don't want an epidural for open heart surgery.

Think of such an operation where it is perfectly fine to administer any kind of anesthesia. Not too intrusive like a heart surgery where you must be knocked out but all options are possible and given to you by your anesthesiologist.

I would tell them that I would be terrified to be awake during the surgery and want to be knocked out. Then when they mention they will administer propofol through iv, I would say I also heard the burning sensation of the white milk, afraid of needles and injections so ask if there is another way to knock me out.

Lastly they mention they can start the anesthesia with sevoflorine gas through a mask, I would say I'd like to have the gas to go under.

My preference is NO anesthesia other than a local one if necessary. I have had several colonoscopies, all with no anesthesia. I have even had an endoscopy with no anesthesia.

Back in the early 1970s I had trouble waking up from the anesthesia they gave me before a minor operation. Even the doctor said they thought it took me an excessive amount of time to wake up. I did have major abdominal surgery back in the late 1990s and if I could have made them keep me awake I would have. I don't like being out and not knowing what is going on. I want to ALWAYS KNOW what's going on. I even had surgery on my thumb back in the early 2000s with no anesthesia, not even a local. They just put two blood pressure cuffs on my upper arm, inflated them a lot and shut the blood flow off until my whole lower arm and hand went numb. Then they did the surgery and even showed me what the tendon looked like. Who knew tendons was bright white!! It took about 30 to 45 minutes to do the surgery. After the last stitch, the cuffs were deflated and I could feel a surge of blood back into my lower arm and hand.

For me it’s spinals if at all possible . I have had a few spinals from broken leg repair, varicose vein removal, bladder prostate surgery and knee surgery. Love to see what is going on, hate being put under.

Cloth Ether cone

Lots of tequila

I would prefer gas via mask. Something about looking up and the anesthetist while they sedate me is quite enjoyable. Maybe they also rub my face with their gloved hand and talk to me softly. Losing control as i drift off with the mask on my face, simply amazing!

Propofol

Gas all the way through mask.I would love to be watching and looking up at my anesthesist also.Then drifting off the dreamlands!!

To simplify it, if we ignore all that issues with effectiveness, span, and stuff like that, gas would be great. Especially with deep eye contact, rubbing face or holding hand on a forehead of a patient... that would be awesome.

I prefer nerve blocks or locals

Well I'm nervous because I've had pneumonia when I've been under Anesthesia. It happened when they took my tonsils out.

I guess my preferrence would be if I can get through it is lots of local pain meds and just groggy and babbling. That's what they did when they took me when I had an abscess cut out just a few weeks ago, I don't know how long that was.

Also I have positional sleep apnea, if they lay me down flat I'm not going to breathe so they have to give me oxygen and bag me.

When I had ECT that's what they had to do was oxygen and bag me. I really liked that Anesthesia, it was like 10 9 8.. wake up counting 3.2.1. that was about 20 minutes but I didn't notice.

I usually get knocked out with an injection. I have no idea what it is. I have had propofol and I usually do not stay under well with it. When going this route they give me that and something else for a kicker. On occasion multiple beers have worked too!

General anesthesia given by gases delivered by a mask or breathing tube.

Gas induction i prefer

In real life, I think avoiding anesthesia as much as possible is smart.

In fantasy, I'm a fan of all of these, and combinations, too. I tend to write stories where people are gassed most of the way down, then put out with an IV injection. That seems to be pretty much the reverse of real procedures but it's exciting in fiction.

I would prefer gas. Preferably through a black rubber mask as I drift off to dreamland breathing in and out deeply and watching the rubber rebreathing bag expand and contract. At that point they can go with the IV and other medications.

I would ask to be gassed through a black beauty if I have the option but nitrous knockout through a clear full face mask also seems pretty fun:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MVqPepm_qZY

Looks like Sophie had great fun going under with nitrous! I need to ask my dentist to knock me out next time I get a surgery!

Regional + local for me. I like to be aware of what’s going on. I don’t even like to be given much Versed because it impairs my memory. I’ve sworn I’ll never agree to general anesthesia again. So only regional anesthesia going forward.

Versed with a little bit of fentanyl

In real life, I think avoiding anesthesia as much as possible is smart.

Definitely agree as being under general puts your life in someone else's hands. I have been lucky in that the only hospital stay I ever had was at six months old back in the early 60's and I do not remember it. I have lucked out in being relatively healthy and not needing hospitalization all these years. The only anesthesia I have had in all these years is at the dentist. Last several times procaine for crown work. I do miss the nitrous as that was relaxing.

This past summer i had cataract surgery. I mentioned to the ophthalmologist that I was fearful of seeing what was going to be done since I would be awake during the procedure. He said not to worry, the anesthesia was such that everything would look purple, I'd be conscious but really see anything - he was right, I was awake, did not see what was being done and only saw purple! Wonder what it was … it was great! Also since my procedure was more complicated than a normal one, it took longer..

I’ve actually never been under anesthesia yet, but I don’t like needles. I like the thought of being put completely under, but I think I’d prefer to have it via gas in a mask.

As little as possible. No sedation for colonoscopies. I have experienced several types: at my request, local only for 2 inguinal hernia surgeries, twilight for 4 hour ablation for afib, short term total without intubation (Propofol) for several cardioversions.

Only Novocain for any dental work, including wisdom tooth extractions and 2 crowns. I am the opposite of @RandiGrove - the more awareness, the better. I love observing what is going on, and don't get freaked out in the least.

Favorite memory: the intense concentration and coordination between surgeon, supporting staff and all the technology during ablation procedure. Most humorous moment during the same procedure: trying to form a thought, being unable to get the words out coherently, and giving up saying “Oh, fxxx it!” They all cracked up.

I had several surgical operations:

Gas from a mask with diethyl ether: it is horrible, look like the end of the world when I was starting to sleep and I vomited a few minutes after the end of the surgery ( not used today )

Thiopental IV injection is better but the start is very fast and unpleasant and after I feel not very well and dizzy. ( not used today in France ? )

Propofol (Diprivan) IV injection is better I had a near normal sleep and when I wake up with only little side effects just feeling a little tired.

I had several surgical operations:

Gas from a mask with diethyl ether: it is horrible, look like the end of the world when I was starting to sleep and I vomited a few minutes after the end of the surgery ( not used today )

My late father was born in the 1920's. Through his young life he underwent many surgeries due to a serious auto accident and subsequent infections (before antibiotics). He told me how miserable ether was and how he always vomited when he came out of it. Until his death in the late 90's, he probably had every form of “modern” anesthesia there was.

Oxygen mix with Little bit of Soft anesthesia gas just to relax enough to see the nurse

I had Dental Surgery this last week and they did it through an IV in my arm, which was so fast and i was out, i think they said within 5 seconds

I've never been under anesthesia yet. But, in my fantasy I prefer gas from a mask. I love the scenes when patients being put to sleep with anesthesia mask then doctor says, “Take some deep breath," and I'll get their sleepy faces under mask.