Anesthesia for Lobectomy

General anesthesia is used for a lobectomy, which means that you will be put into a deep sleep that keeps you from feeling pain, pressure, or movement during the procedure. Your surgery may also involve spinal anesthesia, which is used to decrease your pain after the surgery. There are possible complications and side effects when using anesthesia for lobectomy -- to reduce your risk of complications, it is important to tell you doctor (before your surgery) about any allergies or other medical conditions you have.

Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

Anesthesia for Lobectomy: An Overview

Anesthesia is a type of medicine that keeps you from feeling pain during the surgery. For a lobectomy, general anesthesia is used. This puts you into a deep sleep, and you shouldn't feel any pain, pressure, or movement during the surgery.

With general anesthesia, you will first be asked to breathe through an oxygen mask. Your anesthesia provider will give you medicine through your IV that makes you feel very relaxed, and you should quickly fall asleep. After you are sound asleep, a breathing tube will be placed in your windpipe. This tube helps you breathe during the lobectomy. Your anesthesia care team will give you other medications through your IV and/or breathing tube, as needed, during your procedure.

There are many potential side effects and complications of general anesthesia. So be sure to ask any questions you might have when you talk with your anesthesia provider before the lobectomy. Also, tell him or her about any allergies or health conditions you have. This will help your anesthesia care team know how to take care of you during the surgery, and whether you will need any special attention.

You may also get spinal anesthesia. For this type of pain relief, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put through your skin and next to your spinal cord, where it releases anesthetic. This is used to decrease your pain after the surgery.