Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia is a type of anesthetic that is also called a 'nerve block.' A nerve block involves using anesthetic (freezing) medication so that only the part of your body needing surgery is made numb. Nerve blocks provide excellent anesthesia during surgery. They also provide effective pain relief after surgery.

If you have a nerve block you might not need a general anesthetic. If you do not have general anesthesia there is less chance that you will have nausea or sleepiness after your surgery. You might be able to go home sooner. Sometimes we give a nerve block as well as a general anesthetic. We do this to provide good pain relief following surgery after you have recovered from general anesthesia.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Benefits of Regional Anesthesia for AV Fistulas
• Blocks for Pain Management
• Continuous Catheter & Local Anesthetic Administration at Home Program
• General Anesthesia or Sedation
• Having Surgery under Regional Anesthesia
• Instructions for Patients about Signs and Symptoms of a Malignant Hyperthermia Reaction
  
• Managing Your Pain

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  Italian	Portuguese	Spanish
  Vietnamese

• Managing Your Pain after Day Surgery

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  Italian	Portuguese	Spanish

  Vietnamese

• Managing Your Pain with PCA - IV or Epidural

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  Italian	Portuguese	Vietnamese

• Oral Patient Controlled Analgesia
• Pre Operative Care Unit at TWH

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Anesthesia Consult Clinic
• Anesthesia Services
• Department of Anesthesia (TWH)
• Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management

Related Web Sites

• Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
  Information on anesthesia and anesthesiologists for the Canadian public provided by the Society.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
  To find information about the medical care you receive before, during, and after surgical and diagnostic procedures.