Expert: Jim Henderson, CRNA - 11/19/2003

Question
Hi,

I am 17 weeks pregnant and my OB is placing a cerclage in my cervix tomorrow.  They are putting me to sleep.  (with a light anesthesia). I have a few questions, please.

1.  Why did the anesthesiologist ask me if I had herpes?  Will herpes affect general anesthesia?

2.  I've been taking Valtrex the last few days, will this drug affect the general anesthesia?

3.  I am supposed to take Indocin the morning of the procedure with a small sip of water.  How many hours before the procedure is it safe to do this?

THanks!

Answer
Michelle,

It looks like I may be too late in answering your question prior to your procedure, which I'm guessing you had today.  I hope everything went as planned and you are doing fine.

As for your question, herpes will not affect general anesthesia, but some are concerned with offering you other types of anesthesia with active herpes, anesthesia like spinal or epidural anesthesia.  Valtrex does not have any known effect upon general anesthesia.  It is fine to take medications with a sip of water prior to anesthesia.  We frequently give blood pressure and heart medications to our patients with a sip of water prior to their anesthesia.

Again, I hope your procedure and anesthesia went according to plan and you are well on your way to recovery.  Sorry again for being late in getting back to you.  i was on-call in the hopsital last night and did several labor epidurals!

Best wishes,

Jim Henderson, CRNA