Understanding the Types of Anesthesia and How They Are Administered

Many people fear anesthesia, but they should not. Statistics reveal that the chances of a person dying while under anesthesia are smaller than one in 100,000.

When you fear something in life, the best way to get past it is with a little education. Understanding the types of anesthesia and how a medical professional will administer it takes away the cloud of mystery that can make you feel uncertain about the process.

Particularly if you need anesthesia during surgery, do not panic. Here is why.

General Anesthesia

When you hear the phrase “being put under” anesthesia, this is usually what comes into people’s minds. You are unconscious. With general anesthesia, have no awareness or sensation.

There are different ways to administer general anesthesia. Sometimes medical professionals use vapors or gases through a mask or breathing tube. Here is a link where you can inspect important anesthesia machine parts.

Other times, an IV will administer the medication, which can treat pain, relax muscles, and induce sleep.

The side effect that is most common from general anesthesia is drowsiness. Serious reactions are rare.

Regional Anesthesia

This prevents pain by numbing an area of the body. If you require surgery, it will block sensation completely.

An anesthesiologist will administer this by injecting local anesthesia close to the cluster of nerves which provides the area sensation. Common types of regional anesthesia that you may hear about are epidural and spinal anesthesia. Professionals can use either of these during childbirth.

Orthopedic procedures like a total hip replacement or a total knee replacement may require spinal or epidural anesthesia. Following surgery, an epidural catheter will remain in place so that a patient can have pain relief continuously for a few days following the procedure.

Sedation

In the past, you have heard the term “twilight.” More recently, you may hear the term “monitored anesthesia care.”

Usually, a medical professional will administer this through an IV. The patient will feel relaxed and drowsy. There are various levels of sedation, including mild, moderate, and deep sedation.

Eye surgery will often use mild sedation. Moderate sedation may make a patient doze off, but they can wake up easily.

Deep sedation, however, is very similar to general anesthesia. A patient is deeply asleep. They can breathe without help, though.

Propofol is a medication for deep sedation. Procedures like colonoscopy and upper endoscopy will use deep sedation medication.

Local Anesthesia

This is a term you hear for medications like lidocaine. They are injected with a needle or applied with a cream. These medications will numb a small area.

If a doctor is filling a dental cavity or stitching a deep cut, local anesthesia is common. A surgeon may inject a patient with local anesthesia, giving the person additional relief from pain as they recover.

Types of Anesthesia

Live a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes, you need the help of a medical professional to make you better and help you live your best life. Medical professionals may need further help with one of the four types of anesthesia, as you now have a better understanding.

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