top of page

Pain Management

Performing a circumcision produces significant discomfort if done without the use of an anesthetic. Anesthetic medications taken by mouth, injected or inhaled will alleviate pain.
Circumcisions for children one year and older can be performed under local or general anesthesia.
LOCAL ANESTHESIA ( Nerve Block)
Local anesthesia involves the  injection of anesthetic medications on or around a nerve to control pain in a specific area of the body. They are sometimes used in combination with a sedative medication for pain management during circumcision. They work by temporarily blocking the pain pathways that connect the spinal cord to the brain. Consequently, pain sensation is not recognized. Nerve blocks are safe and effective options for those who do not desire general (sleep) anesthesia.
Side effects include a possible allergic reaction to the anesthetic. Needle injections can rarely result in damage or possible loss of function to the involved nerve. Commonly used injectable anesthetics are lidocaine and marcaine.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Definition
Patients under general anesthesia are in a state of unconsciousness with the objective of producing amnesia (temporary memory loss) and analgesia (pain relief). Therefore, the patient will not feel or remember the surgery.
Medications
The medicines used for general anesthesia are called inhalation anesthetics. They contain halogen, an element found, in its natural state, as a gas. However, like its family members chlorine and fluorine, they usually exists in nature as compounds and solutions.

The anesthetic in its liquid state can be changed back into a gas by vaporizing in a specially designed anesthesia machine. Once inhaled into the lungs, the medicine is carried throughout the bloodstream where its effects will produce loss of consciousness, loss of body sensation and muscle relaxation. Common names include isoflurane, sevoflurane and enflurane.
Pre-evaluation
Anesthesia specialists who administer inhalation drugs must consider several issues before placing a patient under general anesthesia:
 
* history of allergies to anesthetics, pain relievers or antibiotics
* presence of medical conditions such as diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases
* present  medications taken
* any other questions or concerns about the procedure
 
Procedure
The anesthetic medications given will gradually produce a state of initial drowsiness to complete loss of awareness and body sensation.
While under the influence of the medication, the anesthesia specialist will place a breathing tube in the airway to ensure oxygen-rich air is delivered to the lungs. The breathing tube is connected to a machine that delivers air in a controlled volume and rate.
During the surgery, vital signs are continuously monitored along with the oxygen content of the patient’s blood.
The procedure will take approximately 20 - 25 minutes.  A nerve block is given prior to being awaken to provide pain relief over the next several hours. Prescription medications taken by mouth will provide for a painless healing period.
Risk
Common side effects of inhalation anesthetics include a drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate. Kidney and liver damage can occur in rare cases. Even more rarely, death can occur.
The majority of these reported deaths are a result of:

 

* aspiration of stomach contents
* allergy to anesthetic medications
* breathing failure due to malfunctioning equipment
* difficulty controlling the patient’s airway
* All of the above are avoidable with a thorough pre-evaluation

© 2023 La Clinica Medica De 24 Horas

No animals were harmed in the making of this site.

  • w-tbird
  • w-facebook
  • w-googleplus
bottom of page