Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/28/2008

Question
I am scheduled to have an outpatient surgery in a couple of weeks and have been told that a CRNA will be administering twilight sleep to sedate me.  I have never had any form of sedation, and I am worried that something will go wrong or that I will be allergic to whatever they are injecting in me.  I am allergic to penicillin, but since I've never been exposed to any form of anesthesia, I don't know if I'm allergic.  Is there anything that I can do to feel more at ease and that nothing is going to go wrong?

Answer
Alergie to anesthesia are extremely rare so I don't think you have anything to worry about. CRNAs are fully trained to administer anesthesia and tyo take care of emergencies if they arise so you are in good hands. While no one will give you a 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong, the chances of a bad outcome are EXTREMELY rare.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston