A few things to keep in mind while using anesthesia in high-risk surgical patients

The practice of employing medicine to dull pain during operations and other medical procedures is known as anesthesia. Depending on the medical procedure, the patient may receive either local or general anesthesia. Anaesthetic techniques may be difficult for high-risk surgical patients. 

Dr. Bhagyashree Arbhi, Head of Anaesthesia at Jupiter Hospital in Pune, stated in an interview with HT Lifestyle: "It's a delicate task to administer anesthesia to high-risk surgical patients; careful planning and adherence to specific protocols are necessary to ensure patient safety." The specialist went on to list the following considerations before giving anesthesia to a patient undergoing a high-risk surger.

Comprehensive evaluation before to surgery:

A comprehensive preoperative evaluation collects specific data regarding the patient's past medical history, present medications, physical condition, and past anesthetic experiences. Crucial organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain should receive extra care.

Tools for risk assessment:

Advanced radiographic and blood investigations, in addition to risk assessment instruments like the ASA classification, assist in assessing a patient's degree of risk and helping to make appropriate plans.

Continuous observation:

General anesthesia is most often advised for surgical patients who pose a high danger to themselves. During surgery, it is crucial to closely monitor a patient's heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen levels, and amount of anesthesia. For ongoing patient safety monitoring, sophisticated hemodynamic monitoring technologies are available. Hemodynamic stability is ensured by promptly managing blood loss. Vigilant monitoring and protocol-based treatment with supportive medication are required if blood pressure or heart rate is unstable.

tracking the body temperature of the patient:

By keeping an eye on the patient's body temperature, you can help prevent complications and expedite their recovery by keeping them warm.

Pain management:

Because regional anesthesia tends to provide patients with better hemodynamic stability, better postoperative pain control, and a lower need for opioids, it may occasionally be safer than general anesthesia. Examples of these regional anesthetic techniques include spinal, epidural, and USG-guided regional nerve blocks.