Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia

Spinal and epidural anesthesia are being used more and more with childbirth, cesarian sections, leg surgeries and other surgeries where general anesthesia is not necessary. Doctors and anesthesiologists understand that general anesthesia carries many dangers with it and than the less anesthesia a patient can take, and remain comfortable, the safer the procedure will be overall.

Sometimes people are so afraid of the side-effects of anesthesia that they will refuse surgery when their lives could be greatly improved if they would have it.

Research is showing that adding music to the formula can actually help the patient use less anesthesia too. Listening to soft, slow and soothing music before, during, and after the procedure can decrease the amount of anesthesia required by up to 50%!

Watch this video, which will give you a medical perspective on how spinal anesthesia is administered and show you why it is preferable to general anesthesia, if possible!

By DrAlice|July 21, 2010|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia|0 Comments

Who benefits the most from music during surgery?

There are many populations that are particularly at-risk for the negative side-effects of general anesthesia during surgery. The elderly and those that suffer from serious and chronic health conditions are two major groups. Small children and especially those that are not healthy or already have serious disabilities.

Anesthesia is powerful but necessary reality in the world of medicine today. A lawyer just told me earlier today that an anesthesiologist that he represents said “an anesthesiologists job is 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror!” I thought that was an interesting and telling opinion coming from someone who administers anesthesia every day!

How does music help? I believe in a three-part process. If the patients is given the pre-programmed headphones between 30-45 minutes prior to surgery, their bodies and minds will begin relaxing right away. The music they are listening to is slow, steady and rhythmic, which entrains or synchronizes the heart rate and breathing with the music.

By the time they get into surgery, their body is already quite relaxed, muscles unclenched and mind drifting pleasantly. They will NOT need as much anesthesia in order to be put to sleep. Also, because their ears are gently covered with the headphones, they don’t have to worry about hearing conversations of the staff or hear the often un-nerving sounds of surgical equipment.

When they continue to wear the headphones into the recovery area, they are gently aware of the fact that they are out of surgery and now recovering from anesthesia so that they can be taken to their own hospital room. This happens around the world every day and music could greatly ease the process!

If you or someone you love is scheduled for surgery, please take a minute to go to www.surgicalheadphones.com and check out these potentially life-saving headphones. When you get home, you can easily change the music on them if you want and put your own favorite music on to enjoy for years to come!

By DrAlice|July 7, 2010|Anesthesia, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia|0 Comments

Anesthesia sensitivity and music

NEW YORK, NY — 05/18/10 — Each year, many patients must pass up on elective minor surgeries because of the serious risks attached, especially with regards to anesthesia. However, more and more surgeries are being performed while the patient is sedated but generally “awake,” resulting in reduced risks and side effects, such as nausea or stress to the heart and lungs. These side effects make surgery very risky for patients with existing heart and lung conditions. And a majority of patients that suffer from advanced erectile dysfunction (ED) unresponsive to treatment with oral medications (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra), usually also have heart or vascular conditions. So when one of these patients needs surgery for a penile implant or prosthesis, an “awake surgery,” conscious sedation or twilight anesthesia might be the answer, says Dr. J. Francois Eid, director of Advanced Urological Care, and Clinical Associate Professor of Urology at Weill/Cornell Medical College in New York City. “As a matter of fact because this type of anesthesia has worked so well for our high risk patients, we now use it routinely for all patients undergoing this procedure,” further states Dr. Eid.

Dr. Eid’s main area of expertise is with penile pumps or Inflatable Penile Prostheses (IPP). He believes in the effectiveness of IPPs, since he has performed more internal penile prosthesis surgeries than anyone in the world, over 300 per year. In recommending this minor procedure for a patient with heart disease, the issue of anesthesia becomes a tricky one. Most general anesthetics make the heart pump less efficiently. They can also dilate the blood vessels around the body, resulting in a drop in blood pressure. The lungs are also put under stress, rendering them unable to clear out secretions as efficiently as they would otherwise.

With regional anesthesia and conscious sedation, sedatives lower the patient’s level of consciousness without putting them into a deep sleep, requiring endo-tracheal intubations and a respirator as with general anesthesia. A pain medicine is also administered, usually through an IV. These medications cause temporary forgetfulness, so patients may not remember the procedure. Depending on the level of sedation, the patient may be awake and able to respond physically to questions, listen to music or have a pleasant conversation with the anesthesiologist. Patient’s blood pressure and pulse are monitored during this process. Oxygen saturation and breathing levels are closely monitored by an anesthesia professional during the entire procedure.

According to Dr. Eid, the advantage to “awake surgeries” would allow his patients to undergo surgery with regional anesthesia, or ‘blocks.’ By blocking sensation with a local anesthetic around the specific nerves near the groin area of surgery, it would make his routine IPP operation faster and safer. Currently, the practice is being used in surgeries for hands, feet and limbs, but Eid believes that this is the ideal way of performing IPP surgeries.

There are inherent advantages of being awake and receiving a regional during IPP surgeries. Shortly after the local anesthesia is administered, full expansion and engorgement of the penis occurs. This facilitates sizing of the penis and results in a placement of a bigger implant. Reservoir placement of the prosthesis is also much easier for the surgeon. Better antibiotic penetration of the penis and surrounding tissues is also likely to occur from the dilation of blood vessels. Deep vein thrombosis of the legs, a complication of general anesthesia, almost never occurs following brief regional anesthesia. Even after the procedure is finished, prolonged relief of pain is noted from the regional anesthesia, preventing the need for oral or intravenous medications thus avoiding their side effects such as drowsiness, nausea and constipation.

“Not only is there an increased safety factor, but the use of local anesthesia will also allow patients to be released from the hospital or ambulatory surgery center sooner, most on the same day, which would save patients, hospitals and insurance companies lots of money,” explained Dr. Eid. Eid’s own “No-Touch” penile implant surgery, which boasts an infection rate of less than one percent, is also cost-efficient, as it reduces the need for prolonged antibiotic treatment and re-implant procedures.

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By DrAlice|June 3, 2010|Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia|0 Comments

A True Story of Music and Surgery!

Here is what I did to improve
my heart surgery experience …

… And Recover In LESS Time!

I fear going to the doctor. When I got married, I couldn’t even look at the nurse that did my blood test. A routine physical exam would leave me in a cold sweat and completely worn-out.

My dislike of the doctor’s office, the trip to the dentist, or a hospital visit was solved by “I just didn’t go to those places very often.” My health care system was based on “Denial of Need.” I would tell my wife:

          “I don’t need to do that.”
          “I don’t feel that bad.”
          “I just need more sleep.”

The “Denial” system worked well when I was 21. I had no major medical situations when I was 31 or 41 or even 51. I was living a healthy life-style; I never had to spend the night in the hospital; I never had surgery.

At age 53, and over the next 10 years, my healthcare needs increased. I had a heart attack, open heart surgery, cardiac failure, and this year I had surgery to implant a defibrillator pacemaker. Turns out my family has a history of heart problems and my baby-boomer life-style wasn’t as healthy as I thought.

Am I still nervous or afraid of hospitals after 3 major surgeries and 4 hospital stays — Yes, but let me tell you what I did to improve my surgery experience:   Read More

By DrAlice|May 10, 2010|Benefits of music during surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Music and Heart Surgery, Pacemaker implantation|0 Comments

Pacemaker surgery…can music help?

This information is excerpted from http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Pacemakers.html

A pacemaker is a surgically implanted electronic device that regulates a cardiac arrhythmia.

Pacemakers are most frequently prescribed when the heartbeat decreases under 60 beats per minute at rest (severe symptomatic bradycardia). They are also used in some cases to slow a fast heart rate over 120 beats per minute at rest (tachycardia).

Demographics

The population for pacemaker implant is not limited by age, sex, or race. Over 100,000 pacemakers are implanted per year in the United States. The occurrence is more frequent in the elderly with over 85% of implants received by those over age 65. A history of myocardial infarction (heart attack), congenital defect, or cardiac transplant also increases the likelihood of pacemaker implant.

Description

Approximately 500,000 Americans have an implantable permanent pacemaker device. A pacemaker implantation is performed under local anesthesia in a hospital by a surgeon assisted by a cardiologist. An insulated wire called a lead is inserted into an incision above the collarbone and guided through a large vein into the chambers of the heart. Depending on the configuration of the pacemaker and the clinical needs of the patient, as many as three leads may be used in a pacing system. Current pacemakers have a double, or bipolar, electrode attached to the end of each lead. The electrodes deliver an electrical charge to the heart to regulate heartbeat. They are positioned on the areas of the heart that require stimulation. The leads are then attached to the pacemaker device, which is implanted under the skin of the patient’s chest.

Patients undergoing surgical pacemaker implantation usually stay in the hospital overnight. Once the procedure is complete, the patient’s vital signs are monitored and a chest x ray is taken to ensure that the pacemaker and leads are properly positioned.

Modern pacemakers have sophisticated programming capabilities and are extremely compact. The smallest weigh less than 13 grams (under half an ounce) and are the size of two stacked silver dollars. The actual pacing device contains a pulse generator, circuitry programmed to monitor heart rate and deliver stimulation, and a lithium iodide battery. Battery life typically ranges from seven to 15 years, depending on the number of leads the pacemaker is configured with and how much energy the pacemaker uses. When a new battery is required, the unit can be exchanged in a simple outpatient procedure.

A temporary pacing system is sometimes recommended for patients who are experiencing irregular heartbeats as a result of a recent heart attack or other

For more information see http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Pacemakers.html

By DrAlice|May 4, 2010|Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Fear and Anxiety about Surgery, Headphones for other medical procedures, Pacemaker implantation|0 Comments

Interesting history about anesthesia

There is so much in this world that we take for granted…we have to! We can’t be experts on everything and especially when it comes to the medical world, we must trust that our doctors know what they’re talking about. However, doctors are human, like everyone else, and they do make mistakes. We must decide for ourselves how much information we want to get about any particular procedure or test.

In line with this, I thought my readers might be interested to know a little more about the history of anesthesia. Enjoy!

The date of the first operation under anesthetic, Oct. 16, 1846, ranks among the most iconic in the history of medicine. It was the moment when Boston, and indeed the United States, first emerged as a world-class center of medical innovation. The room at the heart of Massachusetts General Hospital where the operation took place has been known ever since as the Ether Dome, and the word “anesthesia” itself was coined by the Boston physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes to denote the strange new state of suspended consciousness that the city’s physicians had witnessed. The news from Boston swept around the world, and it was recognized within weeks as a moment that had changed medicine forever.But what precisely was invented that day? Not a chemical – the mysterious substance used by William Morton, the local dentist who performed the procedure, turned out to be simply ether, a volatile solvent that had been in common use for decades. And not the idea of anesthesia – ether, and the anesthetic gas nitrous oxide, had both been thoroughly inhaled and explored. As far back as 1525, the Renaissance physician Paracelsus had recorded that it made chickens “fall asleep, but wake up again after some time without any bad effect,” and that it “extinguishes pain” for the duration. What the great moment in the Ether Dome really marked was something less tangible but far more significant: a huge cultural shift in the idea of pain. Operating under anesthetic would transform medicine, dramatically expanding the scope of what doctors were able to accomplish. What needed to change first wasn’t the technology – that was long since established – but medicine’s readiness to use it.

How does this apply to the acceptance of music during surgery? I’ll let you draw the parallels because I think it is fairly self-evident. Music has been used in medical settings for centuries. Evidence of this can be found easily by simply Googling “history of music in medicine.” Music is one of the most ancient and powerful of medical/healing interventions. But those of us who believe this fervently must get the word out to our doctors and have proof in hand. My blogs and my websites are filled with the facts and the documentation you need. If you want more, just email me through the blog or through my website, www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com.

By DrAlice|June 9, 2009|Anesthesia, Anesthesia history, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Music and Anesthesia|0 Comments

Benefits of Less Anesthesia

As I talk to people about the benefits of music during surgery, invariably I get the question, “But Alice, why would you want less anesthesia during surgery…I want MORE anesthesia!” OK, I know what you’re thinking: you don’t want to risk feeling any pain or being “accidentally awake” though the doctors think you are asleep. Yes, there’s been a lot in the news about that recently. Here are some of the many benefits of using less anestheisa:

anesthesia can take up to 6 months to completely leave your system
all bodily systems are brought to an almost complete halt by anesthesia, severe constipation being a common result of this
anesthesia is fraught with adverse reactions in patients including allergy and just plain sever side-effects
side-effects include prolonged nausea, dizziness, fuzzy thinking, rashes, double vision and depression
the less anesthesia you have, the sooner you can leave the hospital, begin your healing journey and get on with your life!

If you could have beautiful music playing through headphones cordless, self-contained, lightweight headphones during your procedure and take less anesthesia without an increase in pain, wouldn’t you do it?? Please let me know! Thank you!

By DrAlice|February 17, 2009|Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Fear of anesthesia, Music and Anesthesia, Pediatric anesthesia|0 Comments

People’s Fears of Surgery and Anesthesia

Most people are concerned and somewhat frightened when they learn that they are going to need surgery to correct, repair or heal from a condition. Many people are actually terrified that they will not wake up after general anesthesia. Although the science of anesthesiology has come a long way in the past five decades, there are definitely risks!

Recently I read a very interesting thread on a music blog. It went like this:

Who’s been under the knife? How does it feel waking up from the anesthesia? Do you feel groggy, disoriented, pain, numbness? Is it like waking up from a long sleep? Does the pain hit you like a 10 ton brick or does it gradually set in or do you have to keep taking pain killers?

The responses were fascinating: a combination of comforting and scaring the person further. To my delight, many of the readers seemed to be aware of the option of taking their iPod with their favorite music into surgery. If you’re looking at surgery in the near future, please feel free to contact me so assistance in preparing your perfect music!

By DrAlice|February 10, 2009|Anesthesia, Anesthesia and labor, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Fear of anesthesia|0 Comments

Study: Music helps colonoscopy patients tune out test anxiety

While few people will rank a colonoscopy as a favorite medical procedure, one statistic argues clearly in its favor: a 90 percent cure rate in colon cancers caught at an early stage.

Benjamin Krevsky, a professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and director of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Temple University Hospital, found that when patients undergoing a colonoscopy listened to music, they required less sedation. (Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg / University Photography)

Still, patients often approach the test with a mixture of dread and anxiety. Despite sedation, people fear discomfort, and often put off the appointment.

To address this common problem, doctors have added an extra ingredient: music.

A new study reveals that patients who plug into their favorite tunes during a colonoscopy procedure may be able to relax enough to require less sedation, without sacrificing comfort. Results of the double-blind study by doctors at Temple University in Philadelphia were presented at this year’s American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy national meeting.

Their findings align with other research that has shown music reduces anxiety before surgical procedures. Such promising results have led several hospitals around the country to begin studies on how music affects health.

In the colonoscopy study, researchers asked 44 female and 29 male subjects to either bring music from home or choose from a selection of available CDs. Before the procedure, ear buds were taped to all of the participants’ ears and volume set to be audible to only the patient.

After the patient received his or her initial dose of medication, an investigator opened a randomized envelope to see if the music selections would be played. Following the colonoscopy, the attending doctor, fellow and nurse evaluated pain, anxiety and comfort levels for each patient. A non-participating medical provider conducted a second, later interview.

Results revealed that those who listened to music required less sedation (3.8 mg of midazolam vs. 4.4 mg, and 87 mcg of fentanyl vs. 93 mcg) yet reported the same comfort levels as those receiving the higher amounts.

The reductions, equal to about one less dose of medication, are considered clinically significant, according to Benjamin Krevsky, M.D., M.P.H., the lead author of the study, who is a professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine and director of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Temple University Hospital.

“It’s true that many patients don’t like the procedure,” said Krevsky, “but many find that the preparation for the test is worse than the test itself.”

Co-investigator Kevin Skole, M.D., who was a gastroenterology fellow at Temple, had the original idea for the study. Krevsky too was inspired when a dentist handed him ear buds to listen to music during a dental procedure.

“Over all, colonoscopies are very, very safe,” Krevsky said. “And while the risks of sedatives are relatively small, in general, less medication is always better.”

Krevsky also notes the decreased drug dose may translate into reduced healthcare costs.

Most of the participants picked gospel tunes, but the type of music didn’t appear to make a difference.

“Offering music makes sense,” Krevsky said. “It has no downside, it may prove beneficial, and patients appear to be satisfied with the procedure.”

All of which may add up to less anxiety and more colonoscopies.

By Ilene Raymond

For Temple Health Sciences PR

By DrAlice|January 25, 2009|Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Surgery with Music Research|0 Comments

Fear of Anesthesia

It’s not too surprising that many people have a crippling fear of anesthesia. As a matter of fact, their fear is so intense and so overwhelming that they choose not to have surgery, rather than subject themselves to their terrifying projections. But is anesthesia really that dangerous? According to Sarah Wassner Flynn, (http://www.sheknows.com/) “Serious complications from general anesthesia are extremely rare: Malignant hyperthermia affects about one in 10,000 to one in 30,000 patients and far fewer – about five in one million – will die. But even one is too many. More common are side effects like nausea, dizziness and muscle aches, which are much less dangerous and easily managed.
Of course, my purpose in introducing this topic is to let you know that listening to soft, slow, steady instrmental music during surgery has been proven to relax the mind and body tension to the point that up to 50% less anesthesia can be taken and still the body and mind are completely anesthetized! Now that’s worth investigating, isn’t it? To read more, go to MUSIC FOR SURGERY. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all about the process, the research, or the music I have chosen! To your successful surgery!