Sedation:
Who Provides Anesthesia?
Several types of medical professionals are able to provide anesthesia, including:
Physicians (anesthesiologists)
Nurse anesthetists
Dentists/oral surgeons
Anesthesiologist assistants
The level of training varies between different types of providers, with anesthesiologists having the highest level.
If you are receiving nitrous oxide (laughing gas), you will be fitted with a small mask inhale the anesthesia.
If intravenous (IV) sedation is used, a needle is placed in the vein to administer the sedative.
Regional Anesthesia
Regional anesthesia is provided by injecting specific sites with a numbing medication. This may be done with a needle or via a flexible catheter line through which anesthetics and other medications can be administered as needed.
With this type of anesthesia, only the body part being operated on is numbed, which means you are awake—that is, sedated, but still conscious—during the procedure. The anesthetic works on the nerves, causing numbness below the injection site. You are monitored throughout your procedure.
Your anesthesia provider will continuously monitor your vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, during your procedure.
Local Anesthesia
This type of anesthesia is typically used to numb a small site for minor procedures ,a numbing medication is either applied to the skin as a cream or spray, or injected into the area where the procedure will be performed.
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)
This is a type of sedation commonly referred to as "twilight sleep." It's usually used for outpatient procedures to make you feel sleepy and relaxed.
While you may be heavily sedated, this type of anesthesia is different from general anesthesia because you are not chemically paralyzed, nor do you require assistance with breathing. Still, your vital signs are closely monitored to make sure you're stable throughout the procedure.
This type of anesthesia wears off in as little as 10 minutes. Depending on the medications used and the doses given, you may or may not remember the procedure.
When the surgery is done, other medications can be used to reverse the effect of the anesthesia. You will also be monitored in this recovery phase.
After the procedure is complete, the nitrous oxide gas or IV drip is stopped, and you'll be brought slowly out of sedation.
They control the level in your body by increasing, decreasing, or eventually stopping the infusion, which wakes you up.