Patient education: Monitored anesthesia care (The Basics)

What is monitored anesthesia care? — Monitored anesthesia care, or "MAC," is used for minor surgeries or procedures that might be uncomfortable. "Anesthesia" means different types of medicine people get before and during surgery or a procedure.

With MAC, an anesthesia specialist is there to monitor you closely. They will keep you safe and give you the right level of anesthesia to keep you comfortable and relaxed. They can give you:

●Sedative medicines – These make you relax and feel sleepy. This is also called "sedation."

●Pain medicines – These help keep you comfortable during and after the procedure.

The anesthesia specialist can adjust your level of sedation. They will work with your doctor to decide what level you need for your procedure. For some procedures, you are very relaxed, sleepy, and easy to wake up when needed. For others, you can talk and answer questions. Sometimes, you are in a deep sleep.

If needed, the anesthesia specialist can change your level of sedation to "general" anesthesia. This is when you are unconscious so you can't feel, see, or hear anything during the procedure.

The deeper the sedation, the less likely you are to remember the procedure. Many people do not remember the procedure at all after MAC.

When is MAC used? — You might get MAC to help make you more comfortable during a procedure. Examples of procedures that might be done with MAC include:

●Minor surgeries or procedures – These include taking a tissue sample, lining up the ends of a broken bone, or some types of cosmetic surgery.

●Colonoscopy – This test looks at the lining of the colon.

●Dental surgery – This includes things like placing an implant or taking out an impacted tooth.

●Endoscopy – This test uses a special scope to look inside the body.

●Bronchoscopy – This test uses a special scope to look inside the airways.

How do I prepare for MAC? — The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare. Before your procedure, your doctor will do an exam and ask about your health history. You will also get information about:

●Eating and drinking before your procedure – In some cases, you might need to "fast" before your procedure. This means not eating or drinking anything for a period of time. In other cases, you might be allowed to have liquids until a short time before the procedure. Whether you need to fast, and for how long, depends on the procedure you are having and when you need to have it.

●What help you will need after having sedation – You will need someone else to bring you home. You might need someone to stay with you for some time while you recover.

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

What happens during MAC? — When it is time for the procedure:

●You will get an "IV," which is a thin tube that goes into a vein. This can be used to give you fluids and medicines.

●You might get sedation medicines. The doctor will also give you medicines to help with pain.

●The doctors and nurses will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during the procedure.

●After the procedure, the sedation will wear off and you will become more alert.

What happens after MAC? — After your procedure, the staff will watch you closely as your anesthesia wears off.

As you recover, you might feel drowsy, lightheaded, unsteady, or confused. This can last for up to 24 hours. You might also feel nauseous or vomit.

What are the risks of MAC? — Your doctor will talk to you about all of the possible risks, and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Low blood pressure

●Nausea and/or vomiting

●Temporary breathing problems

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

For the first 24 hours after sedation:

●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.

●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.

●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.

●Take extra care when moving about. You might be at a higher risk of falling.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●You have nausea, and you vomit more than 3 times after going home.

More on this topic

Patient education: Anesthesia (The Basics)
Patient education: Sedation for procedures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Moderate or deep sedation for procedures in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Fasting before surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)