What is anesthesia?
Anesthesia is a special medicine the doctor gives you so you don't wake up or feel anything during surgery. An anesthesiologist is the doctor that gives you this medicine. The anesthesiologist is sometimes called the sleep doctor.
How do I get the special medicine?
Most children will get anesthesia for surgery through an intravenous (IV). An IV is a tiny plastic straw that is placed into a vein (usually in your hand). The sleep doctor puts special sleep medicine into your body through the little straw. Once the medicine goes in, you will fall asleep very quickly.
Sometimes, you may need to have medicine through a mask too to help you relax. As you breathe into the mask, you will breathe in the medicine. The medicine in the mask may smell fruity like strawberries. You will get sleepy as you breathe in the medicine. The IV will be started once you are asleep.
How do you know when I'm asleep?
The sleep doctor can tell you are asleep by watching you very closely and checking special machines used in the operating room.
Will I wake up during the surgery?
The sleep doctor is with you during your surgery to give you the right amount of medicine to stay asleep.
When will I wake up?
When your surgery is done, the sleep doctor stops giving you the medicine and you will start to wake up. When you wake up, you will be in a different room, called the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). You will rest here for a while and then go to a different room where your family will be waiting for you.
