Almost all surgical procedures involve some sort of anesthesia. Hernia surgeries are can be performed under a variety of different types of  anesthesia although most are performed under general anesthesia – that means patients are fully unconscious during the procedure.

This article will focus on the topic of anesthesia for hernia surgery. We will discuss the various types of anesthesia used in general surgery procedures, and the potential side effects.

Types of Anesthesia for Hernia Surgery

Anesthesia falls into three basic categories – general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and local anesthesia. Here is some more information on the differences between each:

• Local Anesthesia works by numbing a specific part of the body without putting the patient under. This type of anesthesia is used for minor general surgery procedures like skin cancer removal. Local anesthesia can be combined with intravenous sedation to perform a larger variety of operations.
• General Anesthesia puts the patient completely under so they are unconscious for the entirety of the procedure. General anesthesia is used in many general surgeries that require the surgeon to work on the internal organs.
• Regional Anesthesia utilizes an injection of an individual or group of nerves to numb a specific body part. This can also be combined with sedation.   A spinal anesthetic is a type of regional anesthesia.

All general laparoscopic (minimally invasive) hernia surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, which means you will be unconscious for the whole procedure.   Most open hernia repairs can be performed under regional or local anesthesia (the decision is a joint decision between the patient, surgeon and anesthesiologist).  An anesthesiologist will be monitoring your levels throughout the surgery to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Anesthesia Side Effects of General Anesthesia

Anesthesia is known to have certain side effects after a procedure. Here are a few of the potential side effects a patient can experience after general anesthesia:

• Nausea & vomiting
• Dizziness
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat

Side effects of Regional and Local Anesthetics

• Allergic reactions to the medication
• Bruising or hematoma formation
• Spinal headache
• Incomplete block
• infection

You should always speak with your surgeon and anesthesiologist prior to your hernia surgery to talk about the specifics of your anesthesia. Be transparent about the medications you are taking and any pre-existing conditions you have, as these can impact your anesthesia experience.  In addition it is important to relay to the anesthesiologist any adverse experiences from prior operations.

Dr. Koeplin works hand-in-hand with experienced Minnesota anesthesiologists for every hernia surgery he performs. If you are in need of hernia surgery, make an appointment today with Dr. Koeplin to talk about your surgical options.