Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery - An Insight

Introduction:

A type of anesthesia that does not require an overnight stay in the hospital and will allow the patient to go home on the same day after the surgical procedure is called ambulatory anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is commonly used in plastic surgery that involves minimally invasive procedures and short-duration surgery. It is an effective anesthesia technique that decreases the risk and complications and improves the comfort and satisfaction of the patient. Different types of ambulatory anesthesia techniques are available, like local, regional, and general anesthesia. The choice of treatment depends on the procedure type and the medical history of the patient.

What Are the Indications of Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

Most plastic surgical procedures are done by ambulatory anesthesia. Some commonly performed plastic surgery under ambulatory anesthesia include the following:

• Facial rejuvenation techniques like eyebrow lifts, facelifts, and eyelid surgery.

• Body contouring techniques like tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast reduction.

• Skin rejuvenation techniques like dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels.

• Scar revision techniques like revision surgery and scar excision.

What Are the Contraindications of Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

Ambulatory anesthesia is used in most plastic surgical procedures but however, but it is contraindicated in some plastics surgeries, which include the following:

• Patients with significant medical conditions like lung disease, neurological disorder, or severe heart disease are not indicated to use ambulatory anesthesia. These medical conditions can increase the risk and complications during and after the surgery. These procedures need intensive care and monitoring.

• People having a history of allergic reactions or adverse effects of anesthesia are not indicated to undergo ambulatory anesthesia. These people can have alternative anesthetic options.

• In the case of complex and extensive plastic surgical procedures, a hospital stay is needed to make the patient safe and healthy. So in such cases, ambulatory anesthesia is contraindicated.

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid elective plastic surgical procedures and are not good candidates for ambulatory anesthesia.

What Are the Advantages of Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

The advantages of ambulatory anesthesia over the traditional anesthesia technique include the following:

• They have reduced recovery time. Patients can go home on the same day after the procedure and can return back in doing day-to-day activities within a shorter period of time.

• Ambulatory anesthesia is less expensive than the inpatient anesthesia technique because it does not need hospital stay and monitoring.

• Ambulatory anesthesia has less risk and complications like deep vein thrombosis and infections because of shorter recovery time, and patients are not bedridden for a prolonged time.

• Ambulatory anesthesia reduces the discomfort and inconvenience of the patient due to the hospital stay.

• They are considered very convenient for every patient.

What Are the Disadvantages of Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

Some of the disadvantages associated with ambulatory anesthesia include the following:

• Ambulatory anesthesia is not indicated for all patients. Some people require inpatient anesthesia due to their medical conditions like heart problems or lung disease and the complexity of the procedure.

• In case of any complications or emergencies, people who are under ambulatory anesthesia have limited access to resources and equipment available in the hospital.

• There will be an increased responsibility for the patient to take care of their own during the recovery period and carefully monitor the signs of complications after the surgery.

• Ambulatory anesthesia has a lower risk of immediate complications, but it can be associated with delayed complications after the surgery techniques.

What Are the Different Techniques for Administering Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

The different techniques used for administering ambulatory anesthesia in plastic surgery include the following:

• Local Anesthesia - Local anesthesia is used for minor plastic surgical procedures like scar revision, minor liposuction, and skin biopsy. The anesthetic agent is injected directly into the surgical site, which numbs the region and blocks the pain signal. During this anesthesia technique, the patient will be awake.

• Regional Anesthesia - In regional anesthesia, the numbing agent is injected near a group of nerves which will block the pain signal to a larger area of the body. Examples include brachial plexus block in arm procedures, spinal anesthesia during lower body procedures, or epidural anesthesia during abdominal and lower extremity procedures.

• Monitored Anesthesia Care - In monitored anesthesia care, sedatives and pain medications are administered to relax and decrease the pain during the surgical procedure. This technique is used along with local or regional anesthesia techniques.

• General Anesthesia - In general anesthesia, medications are administered which will induce unconsciousness in the patient and prevent pain and discomfort during the procedure. General anesthesia technique is used in the case of more extensive plastic surgery like breast augmentation, tummy tuck surgery, and face lifts.

What Are the Different Methods of Administering Ambulatory Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery?

The different methods of delivering ambulatory anesthesia include the following:

• Injection.

• Intravenous.

• Inhalation.

• Transdermal.

How Is Ambulatory Anesthesia Performed in Plastic Surgeries?

The steps in ambulatory anesthesia include:

• Pre-operative Evaluation - Before the procedure, the patient is evaluated by the anesthesiologist to assist with the medical history, allergies, medications taken, etc.

• Pre-operative Preparation - Patients are received with some preoperative instructions like fasting before the surgery or avoiding some medications for a few days.

• Anesthesia Induction - Anesthesia will be administered, and the anesthesiologist will closely monitor the vital signs of the patients. The method and technique of administration depend on the individual person and the surgical procedure done.

• Surgical Procedure - The surgeon will do the procedure under anesthesia. The patient may be awake, sedated, or unconscious during the surgical procedure, depending on the duration and type of the procedure.

• Post-operative Recovery - After the procedure, the patient is closely monitored, and the level of consciousness, vital signs, and pain level are taken into consideration. Patients receive post-operative instructions.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the ambulatory anesthesia technique is a safe and successful method of anesthetizing during a plastic surgical procedure. The patient can go home on the same day after the surgery, which reduces the hospitalization time and associated costs. The choice of technique depends on the surgeon, the medical history of the patient, and the type of procedure. It reduces risks and complications. It can help improve the overall patient experience and well-being of plastic surgery procedures.