How am I monitored during anesthesia?
Your anesthesia team monitors vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, and breathing throughout the procedure, with additional monitoring based on your condition and the type of anesthesia.
During anesthesia, clinicians continuously assess oxygenation, breathing, circulation, and vital functions. Monitoring is tailored to your health, the procedure, and the type of anesthesia.
What may be monitored?
Common monitoring includes oxygen level, blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, breathing, and ventilation. Temperature, urine output, the effects of muscle-relaxing medicines, invasive blood pressure, or other measurements may be added when appropriate.
Why continuous attention matters
Anesthesia and surgery can change breathing and circulation quickly. Monitoring helps the care team recognize changes early and respond.
Questions to ask
- Who will be continuously responsible for monitoring me?
- Does my health or procedure require additional monitoring?
- Who can respond immediately if the monitors show a problem?
Outside resources
Sources
Reviewed By
- Preliminary review:
- Arnav Mohanty, OMS-IV, Medical Student
- Physician reviewer:
- Jenny Pennycuff, MD, MS Verify certification and MOCA status (opens in a new tab)
- Board certification:
- Anesthesiology — American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- Last reviewed: