Twilight Sedation vs. General Anesthesia

[DisneyFan32WI]

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

 

[wdwmom0f3]

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

It depends on what kind of surgery.

 

[PigletsPal2]

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

I've never had "small/moderate" surgery unless you count dental work (three extractions), but I had twilight sedation for that. The dentist gave me a prescription for two valium to take the night before and then I had some kind of liquid just before the procedure. The dentist said I was conscious the whole time, responding to him when he talked to me, but I don't remember a thing, there was no pain during or after. I'll be having more work done this summer, and I'll do the twilight again.

Queen Colleen

 

[kimblebee]

I would have twilight, because it's easier to come out of. I had an MRI done an hour ago and they gave me something to loosen me up. It didn't knock me out but it made me not mind being in for an hour. I guess it depends on the procedure..

 

[LuvinLucifer]

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.

 

[Jennasis]

I LOVES me some general anesthesia. Best sleep ever! Of course I had that during spine surgery, so twilight wasn't really an option. I had twilight for my endoscopy and colonoscopy. Worked out fine. I DID wake up in the middle of the colonoscopy. I remember distinctly wondering if I should tell them I was awake...and then thinkng NAaaaaaaaaaaaahh, I'll just go back to sleeZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Really depends on the procedure.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Depends on the surgery/procedure. If they offer twilight I would take it. It is easier to come out of.

 

[Claudia1]

I had general for my first knee replacement and twilight with verset (sp?) and other stuff that made-me-not-care-about-anything for the second.

I did OK waking up from the first but did have some nausea and grogginess but it was not bad.

While I did not have any problem with the anesthesia per-se with the second, I would not recommend it for surgery that requires pain meds after. The combination of meds used required a delay of narcotics use. I had an uncomfortable hour before I could get a pain med. It was not a pleasant experience.

Also, my blood pressure started to drop (which is normal) but the anesthesiologist had to "wake me up" to bring it back up. I remember seeing my surgeon, hearing the music, counting the people around the operating table, and ....... hearing the saw! Because of the meds that made me "not care", I was not nervous or upset and certainly did not feel anything but it still creeps me out over a year later. They also said I talked the whole time.

On a personal note, I'm not comfortable with talking when I'm not in control of what I'm saying. Really..... I didn't like that.... especially when I personally knew several in the OR.

Having said all of that, I understand there are fewer complications with twilight and other benefits.
Just my 2cents.

 

[Vent417]

General anesthesia was the best sleep I've had in a long time. I'd much rather fall asleep and wake up and have it all be over than be in twilight.

 

[Tozzie]

I didn't vote because it really depends on the body part being operated on. I have had surgery a few times and was never given a choice. About 10 years ago I had to have surgery on my arm, I was supposed to have a nerve block but it didn't take and I had general anesthesia.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

When I first started to read the thread title, I thought it was about a new Twilight movie

 

[Bluestars]

For minor surgery I would choose twilight. I think there is less risk of complications and I will wake up as soon as they stop the IV. For some reason general anesthesia creeps me out. I'm afraid I won't wake up.

 

[minkydog]

I voted other because I've done it both ways. I had gen'l anesthesia when my doctor did uterine ablation--did NOT want to be awake for THAT! But I had a local and twilight sleep when I had my thumb joint removed and replaced. The doctor gave me a long-lasting nerve block and my hand was asleep for about 12 hours. Although I was technically awake, I do not remember anything.

For my last colonoscopy, I had propofol--nectar of the gods, I say! Turn it on, go to sleep. Turn it off, wake up and go home. Gen'l anesthesia for my Gallbladder removal. Bleah!~ threw up all afternoon (but that's pretty much par for the course with GB surgery.)

 

[suemom2kay]

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.

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

Conscious sedation is often versed/ativan (like valium - valium not used much for conscious sedation these days), maybe fentanyl for pain. Really up to the clinician. The nurse administering conscious sedatin MUST be ACLS certified.

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.

 

[justhat]

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

Conscious sedation is often versed/ativan (like valium - valium not used much for conscious sedation these days), maybe fentanyl for pain. Really up to the clinician. The nurse administering conscious sedatin MUST be ACLS certified.

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.

This isn't correct. My husband is an anesthesiologist and uses propofol in MAC, so it doesn't require intubation. My friend just had it yesterday in a hysteroscopy done in a hospital by a coworker of my husband. It's pretty common for MAC.

As for what I would choose, depends entirely on the surgery, but on the whole I prefer general to being aware enough to hear and remember parts of my surgery.

 

[disfan07]

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

Conscious sedation is often versed/ativan (like valium - valium not used much for conscious sedation these days), maybe fentanyl for pain. Really up to the clinician. The nurse administering conscious sedatin MUST be ACLS certified.

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.

So not correct. I get propofol every single time I get conscious sedation for procedures (endoscopies, colonoscopies, bronchoscopies, etc). Never intubated for those. Only oxygen through nasal cannula.

For me, it all depends on the procudre. Im high risk for general (I have had cardiac and pulmonary issues with general) but if it's any kind of what I consider to be surgery, I want general.

If its just a procedure....colonoscopy, EP study/cath, bronchoscope, endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, etc twilight is fine. I wake up crying from both so having twilight doesn't keep that from happening with me...

But I've had conscious sedation 8 times over the past 2 years....I don't remember a dang thing from any of the procedures.

I did wake up in the middle of my bronchoscopy 4 years ago from the anesthesiologist not giving me enough meds. Luckily, since moving and switching hospitals, that's never happened. But apparently it takes more anesthetic to sedate me than they usually have to use for someone my size. For my craniotomy, the sedation they have me in pre op did not work....I was completely awake and talking going into the OR....I remember that experience very well!

After one of my colonoscopies my GI was joking that he could not believe how much the anesthesiologist had to keep giving me to keep me out. He said that it could have taken down an elephant...lol

 

[NHdisneylover]

I would go for whatever has the least risk (which I believe would be Twilight).

 

[Miranda Danda]

General anesthesia! I've had it twice and it worked wonderfully for me. Went right to sleep and woke up happy and cheerful. However, the people in the recovery rooms around me could be heard yaking, dry heaving, and hollering. I guess everyone is different!

 

[Acklander]

I've had both general and twilight. I'd prefer the general. When I had the twilight, the dr told me before hand that I would be "awake" but not remember anything afterwards. During the procedure, I kept thinking over and over again (so I wouldn't forget) I don't like this, never let them do this to me again. Looking back, I don't remember what bothered me so much about the procedure, but I remember being adamant that I never wanted them to do it again.

 

[Janepod]

I have a seven year old boy. Knock me out and let me sleep.