General anesthesia is medicine that puts you into a deep sleep-like state so you do not feel pain and are not aware of what is happening during surgery or a procedure. It is often used for major operations, and it may be given through a mask or through an IV, which is a tube placed into a vein. During the procedure, the anesthesia team watches your breathing, blood pressure, pulse, and other vital signs closely. A breathing tube may be used to help you breathe.

While you are under general anesthesia, you are unconscious and usually have no memory of the procedure. It is used when a procedure would be too painful, take a long time, affect breathing, or be hard to do while you are awake. Afterward, you may feel sleepy, groggy, nauseous, chilled, or have a sore throat from the breathing tube. It can take a day or two for the medicine to fully leave your system, so your reflexes and judgment may still be affected. Verify the exact plan with your surgical or anesthesia team in case they want something different for you.