Patient Education
Questions About Anesthesia
Find clear, general information about anesthesia and where to go with questions about your own care.
Start with the right information
General questions deserve clear answers.
Before a procedure, it is normal to have questions about anesthesia. The resources below offer general patient education about common anesthesia topics.
For instructions about your procedure, medicines, health history, or planned anesthesia care, follow the instructions from your surgeon, facility, and anesthesia care team. If those instructions differ from information on this website, follow your care team’s instructions.
Anesthesia Answers
Learn more about common anesthesia topics.
Anesthesia Answers is a patient education resource from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Choose a topic below to learn more.
General Anesthesia
Learn about general anesthesia and what patients may experience.
(opens Anesthesia Answers in a new tab)Sedation
Learn more about sedation and questions patients commonly ask.
(opens Anesthesia Answers in a new tab)Local and Regional Anesthesia
Learn more about anesthesia that numbs a specific area of the body.
(opens Anesthesia Answers in a new tab)Nerve Blocks
Learn more about nerve blocks and regional pain management.
(opens Anesthesia Answers in a new tab)About CRNAs
Learn more about Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and the anesthesia care they provide.
(opens Anesthesia Answers in a new tab)
Before your procedure
Looking for preoperative instructions?
For general instructions about food, drinks, tobacco, medicines, diabetes medicines, and preparing for surgery, visit our Preparing for Surgery page.
Questions about your procedure or anesthesia plan?
For questions about your procedure, medicines, a new illness, symptoms, scheduled arrival, or anesthesia plan, contact your surgeon, hospital or surgery center, or anesthesia care team directly. Do not use the general website contact form for urgent or medical concerns.
Medical emergency? Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.