Twilight Sedation vs. General Anesthesia

[Mandychelle79]

I would chose general if available. I tend to metabolize anesthesia quicker then expected and still remember feeling the stitches when I had my wisdom teeth removed. I felt like I " woke up" from the twilight and remember everything from that point on. I dont remember a darn thing from when I had my jaw broke and was put under.

 

[Cinderella94]

I would always choose general over twilight, but I'm also 18 and had most of my procedures between ages 14 and 16. I can imagine that it might be different as I get older, but I really don't like the idea of twilight.

 

[DebbieB]

I had propofol for my colonoscopy and was not intubated. I was totally out, didn't remember anything except the dream I had! For some reason I dreamed I was at work. Probably telling the person who kept bugging me about getting a colonoscopy that I did it! I woke up as they were wheeling me out of the room and felt fine!

 

[ChrisFL]

Twilight Anesthesia, the books or the movies? I suppose it doesn't matter, both would probably do the trick

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It depends on what kind of surgery.

This.

For wisdom tooth extraction I had general. I was only 12 at the time, and (since I am old) it was a long time ago. That's how they did it then.

For implant surgery, I had general. There's no way someone is cutting into me and rooting around in my jaw with me knowing about it.

The question I have is:

is nitrous considered "twilight sedation"? That's what I have to have to even go for "regular" dental procedures.

Yes, I'm a wimp.

 

[disfan07]

This.

For wisdom tooth extraction I had general. I was only 12 at the time, and (since I am old) it was a long time ago. That's how they did it then.

For implant surgery, I had general. There's no way someone is cutting into me and rooting around in my jaw with me knowing about it.

The question I have is:

is nitrous considered "twilight sedation"? That's what I have to have to even go for "regular" dental procedures.

Yes, I'm a wimp.

I'm getting general too for my wisdom teeth extraction. I risk out of having it done in a free standing center so I have to have it done in the hospital. The consultation we had recommended general and my other doctors have agreed. Same with the anesthesiologist. I can't have anything done without an anesthesiologist there (a lot of conscious sedation procedures, especially at free standing places don't use an anesthesiologist and a lot of insurance companies won't pay for it for certain procedures)

 

[bettymae1121]

I've only ever had general (and tolerate well except for one time, but I think it was because the anesthesiologist over did it) so I'd lean towards that. Twilight does not sound appealing to me at all, the idea of being slightly out of it but still aware creeps me out.

 

[minkydog]

No, for propofol you must be intubated on a ventilator because it severely depresses respiration (Michael Jackson died from illegal abuse of propofol).

Propofol when given IVP (as in pushed into the bloodstream in a syringe) is considered administering general anesthesia (at least in the state of Pennsylvania). You must be either a physician (not sure if a physician would need to be an anesthesiologist) or a Nurse Anesthetist.

I would definitely opt for conscious sedation but would ask if the nurse administering is ACLS certified.

Not true. They use propofol all the time for sedation. My son, Christian, has to be sedated for just about any procedure because he cannot cooperate and propafol is the drug of choice. He has had it many times and never in the OR.

 

[JessicaR]

If you were having a small/moderate surgery, would you opt for GENERAL or TWILIGHT? What are your reasons?

Small moderate surgery - depends on what it is. Can't answer properly, for me.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Give me the propofol! I can see why Michael Jackson liked it so much.

I get violently ill from general anesthesia (nausea/vomiting) so I never want that. Every time I've had MAC anesthesia with propofol, it's great. I'm out the whole time, wake up quickly without feeling too drugged out, and it's actually a mild antiemetic so I don't wake up deathly sick. Love it!

 

[bookgirl]

I've had three surgeries.

Twice with GA. The second time they threatened to put me in restraints. I don't come out of it well very groggy, disorientated and very restless physically (temperature dropped, chattering teeth, thrashing). Was very out of it for hours.

This last time I had Twilight for a very quick minor procedure. I was up and alert within an hour and I felt fine. No grogginess or disorientation at all.

Given the choice I will always pick Twilight. I was not given anything but a liquid in my IV. Don't know what it was, didn't ask.

They did give me a bunch of valium about 40 minutes before the Twilight cause I don't have easy veins and after calling out the anesthesiologist who also couldn't put in an IV, they were comtemplating a central line in my neck and they thought it would relax me. Luckily they eventually got a vein in my arm. They were surprised that I was even still awake when I got to the OR according to them that two doses of valium should have knocked me out cold.

Then about two hours after waking up and getting home, I crashed into a 6 hour dead to the world sleep.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Is twilight propofol and valium? If that's the case I'd go for that. I hated waking up from general after I had my gallbladder removed. It was the worst part.

YEP it is the Michael Jackson cocktail. MILK of Amnesia.

 

[knockUout]

The type of procedure will dictate whether a general anesthetic is required. General anesthesia is actually a combination of unconsciousness, analgesia (pain relief), and often muscle relaxation (paralysis). If you are having a procedure such as appendectomy, gall bladder, or laparoscopy you will have a general anesthetic with intubation (breathing tube in trachea). Propofol is the drug that usually is used for the induction of general anesthesia. If you are having a general anesthetic for a knee arthroscopy, you very well might avoid the intubation and have a LMA placed in your larynx (throat) after you are anesthetized. Colonoscopy type procedures are actually often considered Monitored Anesthesia Care and you should make sure that a CRNA or anesthesiologist ONLY is administering the drug profofol, not a RN. RN's can provide sedation with drugs like Versed and narcotics but they should not administer profofol. Many procedures can be done with local anesthetics (numb up the area) with monitored anesthesia care for patient comfort. Profofol is commonly used for sedation by anesthesia professionals.

 

[bellanotte10]

I choose general anesthesia now. I had twilight for my wisdom teeth and apparently started screaming (I didn't know i had been until I woke up and they told me), so they had to completely knock me out. It also happened a second time for a small post op procedure. i guess don't tolerate anesthesia well so after I tell those stories they think general is a safer route for me, because at least I don't scream and scare other people

 

[DeaverTex]

It depends on the procedure and -- frankly -- the surgeon's personal preference. I wake up pretty well from twilight anesthesia, and I really do NOT like the disorientation that accompanies coming out of general anesthesia. But still, it just depends.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I choose general anesthesia now. I had twilight for my wisdom teeth and apparently started screaming (I didn't know i had been until I woke up and they told me), so they had to completely knock me out. It also happened a second time for a small post op procedure. i guess don't tolerate anesthesia well so after I tell those stories they think general is a safer route for me, because at least I don't scream and scare other people

OMG, were you having your wisdom tooth removal at the same clinic? The girl next to my room was SCREAMING and it almost was enough to make me walk out of the entire place. I was SO scared after seeing and hearing her that I wanted to die.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I guess I would compare the surgery to gallbladder if that helps.

 

[bellanotte10]

OMG, were you having your wisdom tooth removal at the same clinic? The girl next to my room was SCREAMING and it almost was enough to make me walk out of the entire place. I was SO scared after seeing and hearing her that I wanted to die.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I guess I would compare the surgery to gallbladder if that helps.

Mine was done in Melrose MA a few years ago. But that would be so weird!

 

[disfan07]

I've had three surgeries.

Twice with GA. The second time they threatened to put me in restraints. I don't come out of it well very groggy, disorientated and very restless physically (temperature dropped, chattering teeth, thrashing). Was very out of it for hours.

This last time I had Twilight for a very quick minor procedure. I was up and alert within an hour and I felt fine. No grogginess or disorientation at all.

Given the choice I will always pick Twilight. I was not given anything but a liquid in my IV. Don't know what it was, didn't ask.

They did give me a bunch of valium about 40 minutes before the Twilight cause I don't have easy veins and after calling out the anesthesiologist who also couldn't put in an IV, they were comtemplating a central line in my neck and they thought it would relax me. Luckily they eventually got a vein in my arm. They were surprised that I was even still awake when I got to the OR according to them that two doses of valium should have knocked me out cold.

Then about two hours after waking up and getting home, I crashed into a 6 hour dead to the world sleep.

That sounds like me before my craniotomy! They gave me a lot of Valium before hand because they could only get a small IV in me because I was so dehydrated so they thought they could sedate me enough to get a larger IV in the OR. Nope.....wide awake going into the OR....chatting with nurses and anesthesiologist the whole way! I remember everything about the OR. I woke up with a central line, an I-J line, and 3 regular IVs....so obviously they were able to access after I was asleep but they put me to sleep with just a small IV in my hand.

 

[AmazingGrace]

I had an endo ablation a few years back and they did twilight. I remember waking up slightly nauseated, but was able to respond to questions and have a conversation. I came back to myself very quickly.
This past December, I had a lumpectomy with general. I woke up vomiting with a terrible headache and my throat on fire. I had to pee but couldn't. I was so nauseated they they have me phenergan, which made me feel so drowsy and out of it that I couldn't even move properly.
Yeah, I think I prefer the twilight.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Thanks everyone. I guess I am having MAC today. It is in between Twilight and General. Please with me luck. If I don't post here by Sunday, something bad happened.

Wishing all the moms out there a very happy Mother's Day.