Undergoing parathyroid surgery or minimally invasive parathyroid surgery comes with many questions. Who will perform my surgery? What are the risks? When will I be able to continue with my daily routines?
While these are some of the more common questions relating to surgery, another important selection that must be made, with the help of your parathyroid surgeon, before your procedure is what type of anesthesia you should undergo: general or twilight. At the CENTER for Advanced Head & Neck Surgery in Los Angeles, Dr. Larian is an expert with minimally invasive parathyroid surgery, and often performs this procedure under twilight anesthesia & local anesthetic.
What Is Twilight Anesthesia?
When a patient is undergoing minimally invasive parathyroid surgery with Dr. Larian, they have the option to select either general anesthesia or twilight anesthesia for their procedure. Twilight anesthesia is a term used to describe a lighter form of anesthesia that can be given to patients in place of general anesthesia, which often results in a quiet, sleepy, and peaceful state for their surgery. When a patient is put in a ‘twilight sleep,’ they are just asleep enough to not remember or feel any portion of their surgery, and are not actually unconscious. This is accomplished with the help of our team of world-renowned anesthesiologists who use light sedatives through an IV. At the same time the patient receives local anesthesia in the neck so as to have absolutely no discomfort.
In just the last several years, twilight anesthesia has become increasingly popular among patients because it has many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Less Risk
- Wake Easier
- Breathe On Your Own
- No Pain/Feeling
When administered by a board certified anesthesiologist, twilight anesthesia is very safe and does not pose some of the unwanted after affects of general anesthesia.
General Anesthesia VS. Twilight Anesthesia For Parathyroid Surgery
At the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles, Dr. Larian recommends the use of twilight anesthesia for the majority of patients who must undergo minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. Because there are fewer risks, as opposed to the use of general anesthesia, almost everyone is a candidate to be put in a twilight sleep.
The difference between general anesthesia and twilight anesthesia lies within the fact that general anesthesia requires a person to be completely ‘knocked out’ for their surgery. When this happens, a breathing tube must be inserted into your throat to help you breathe during the procedure, as you cannot do it on your own.
General anesthesia, in that it’s a deeper state of sleep, also has the potential to be much more difficult on your internal organs, as it does not wear off as easily as twilight anesthesia. Because of the ease that comes with twighlight anesthesia, patients often feel great upon waking up and are able to head home and recover much sooner than they would have been if they were under general anesthesia.
During your initial consultation with Dr. Larian, the best anesthesia methods for your own individual treatment, as well as your every concern, will be addressed.
Schedule Your Consultation With Parathyroid Expert Dr. Larian
At the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles, Dr. Larian specializes in minimally invasive surgical methods for treatment of parathyroid disorders. If you’d like to learn more about how our staff can help you overcome your parathyroid disorder, contact us today to schedule your initial consultation with Babak Larian, MD, FACS. As an expert head and neck surgeon in Los Angeles and director of the CENTER, Dr. Larian understands the importance of providing patients with only the best care and parathyroid surgery procedures possible to meet their unique needs.
To learn more about your options, please contact Dr. Larian today by calling (310) 461-0300.
