Why you should lie flat on your back for 6 hours after general anesthesia surgery

The main purpose of lying down for six hours after general anesthesia surgery is to keep the airway open to prevent aspiration and to prevent the occurrence of anesthesia reactions, such as low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, and cardiac arrhythmia. After general anesthesia surgery, patients are usually not allowed to sleep. Because of the after-effects of anesthesia drugs, it is easy to lead to respiratory depression or the occurrence of reflux aspiration, or even suffocation. Lying down during the period is not allowed to sleep, but also through the monitoring of vital signs, observe the changes in the patient’s vital signs, to avoid confusion after anesthesia; and observation of anesthesia-induced complications, such as decreased conscious function, nausea and vomiting, allergies and so on. General anesthesia surgery after lying down for 6 hours, if there is no abnormal reaction, it indicates that the surgical anesthesia is safe, the patient can gradually open the corresponding activities.