Anesthesia for Your Tubal Reversal Procedure
Posted On: Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Submitted by Dr. James Split
Anesthesiologist
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, we use general anesthesia for our tubal reversal surgeries. You will be completely asleep through your operation. When under general anesthesia, you will be totally unconscious and will not be able to feel any pain. In addition to the general anesthetic, your tubal reversal surgeon will place local anesthetic into the skin and deeper structures that are operated on to help you be as comfortable as possible when you wake up.
You will have an IV started after you arrive at the surgical center on the morning of your tubal reversal procedure. After you arrive in the operating room, we will give you an intravenous sedative similar to Valium to help you relax prior to going to sleep. We will take a blood pressure reading and then ask you to take several deep breaths of oxygen through a loosely applied face mask. We will put a sedative medication into your IV line that will make you fall asleep very quickly, usually in 10 to 20 seconds. We will keep you asleep during your surgery by having you breathe an anesthetic gas. During your operation, you will be given additional IV medications to prevent post-operative nausea and vomiting, and to minimize pain when you awaken.
We usually place a soft airway in your mouth after you are asleep. This airway is positioned behind your tongue to keep your airway open. This allows us to be sure you always have a safe open passageway for oxygen to enter your lungs. This airway goes into your mouth after you are asleep and is removed when you awaken. Most patients do not remember having a soft airway in their mouth, but some patients will have a scratchy or sore throat for 12 to 24 hours after surgery.
The anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will always remain with you while you are asleep. Throughout your tubal reversal procedure, we will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and oxygen concentration in your bloodstream. You will awaken quickly after your surgery. Most patients are able to move themselves off the operating room table onto the stretcher to be taken into the recovery room.
Sometimes patients ask if they can have conduction anesthesia such as an epidural. We do not use epidural as outpatient anesthesia because of the risks involved. The method of general anesthesia that we use is safer than conduction anesthesia in the outpatient setting and less likely to cause a complication requiring hospitalization.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I think this will be helpful information for patients who may be nervous about being put to sleep. The anesthesia team here at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is dedicated to patient care and patient safety. They put the patient’s safety and comfort as their highest priority.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Thank you Dr. Split for this very informative blog about the anesthesia given at our facility for tubal reversal surgery. I am in the operating room once or twice a week normally, and your description is very accurate and easy to understand. Patients should be able to get a clearer idea of what their anesthesia will be like.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Thanks Dr Spilt, this is a terrific description of our anesthesia practices for tubal ligation reversal. I know our patients will feel more at ease after reading this.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:41 am
The anesthesia team always does a great job making each patient feel comfortable. They will take excellent care of you!
June 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
A very accurate description of of how the anesthesia team does things. Patients always tell us how comfortable they are when they wake up, in most cases pain and nausea free.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
The anesthesia team here is the best! They always do a wonderful job to ensure that each and every patient is as comfortable as possible before and after the tubal reversal procedure.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I think Dr. Split has given women even more reason to come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for their tubal reversal procedure. His clear, concise. and honest description of the anesthesia protocol used should make patients comfortable from the beginning through the end of surgery.
June 18th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Thank you Dr. Split. I am often asked why epidural is not offered as an option at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. This is very informative and it makes good sense to keep patient safety as the highest priority.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Patients are usually surprised how well they feel after surgery and how quickly they recover. Most patients are able to leave after one hour following surgery. The anesthesia team is excellent.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:11 am
The anesthesia department here at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is on the same page about reassuring the patient on exactly what comes next in going to sleep for surgery and also in communicating to the patient their utmost care to ensure safety and comfort.