Painless Facts about Anesthesia
July 8th 2008 12:34
Pain accompanies almost every one of the many medical procedures. But with anesthesia, the sensation of pain is magically blocked during such medical procedures.
Although many drugs (and combinations of drugs) are used for anesthetic purposes, doctors say they are generally used in four ways:
1. Local anesthesia. To numb a small area around the site of the surgery or for dental procedures.
2. Regional anesthesia. To block the pain in entire groups, or "regions," of nerves, which is particularly useful during childbirth.
3. Monitored anesthesia. To ease the discomfort of nonsurgical medical procedures or to supplement local anesthesia by means of painkillers combined with drugs that make the patient drowsy.
4. General anesthesia. Recommended for long or complex surgery to render the patient unconscious and block pain responses throughout the body.
When most people think of anesthesia, they think of general anesthesia. Medical experts, however, say that as medical procedures become simpler to do - and as more procedures are performed on an outpatient basis - general anesthesia is gradually being replaced by the other anesthetic techniques, which are not as risky.
If you are planning to undergo a medical procedure, you may have some choice about the anesthesia. However, experts advise that in many cases the type of anesthesia and the specific drugs that are used will be determined by the procedure itself. Your doctor will also take into account your general health and other factors, including your tolerance for pain.
Concerns on the safety of anesthesia:
Doctors assure that anesthesia are very safe these days. U.S. statistics show that over the past few decades, the risk of death from all forms of anesthesia has dropped from 1 in 4,500 in 1970 to 1 in 400,000 today. In the past 20 years alone, the number of deaths from general anesthesia has fallen by more than 95 percent. Experts attribute this improvement to the development of safer, faster-acting drugs and more sophisticated monitoring equipment that gauges the breathing rates, blood-oxygen levels, and even brain waves of sedated patients. By carefully measuring your vital functions while you are anesthetized, doctors can almost invariably avoid serious problems.
Preparing to undergo surgery:
To reduce the risk of complications, before surgery your anesthesiologist will discuss your medical history, including the prescription and nonprescription medications you take, your allergies (particularly to medications), any previous experience you or your relatives have had with anesthesia, medical problems (especially asthma), and such lifestyle habits as smoking, drinking, or using recreational drugs. After the evaluation, it is crucial that you follow all presurgical instructions your anesthesiologist gives you to the letter.
Although many drugs (and combinations of drugs) are used for anesthetic purposes, doctors say they are generally used in four ways:
1. Local anesthesia. To numb a small area around the site of the surgery or for dental procedures.
2. Regional anesthesia. To block the pain in entire groups, or "regions," of nerves, which is particularly useful during childbirth.
3. Monitored anesthesia. To ease the discomfort of nonsurgical medical procedures or to supplement local anesthesia by means of painkillers combined with drugs that make the patient drowsy.
4. General anesthesia. Recommended for long or complex surgery to render the patient unconscious and block pain responses throughout the body.
When most people think of anesthesia, they think of general anesthesia. Medical experts, however, say that as medical procedures become simpler to do - and as more procedures are performed on an outpatient basis - general anesthesia is gradually being replaced by the other anesthetic techniques, which are not as risky.
If you are planning to undergo a medical procedure, you may have some choice about the anesthesia. However, experts advise that in many cases the type of anesthesia and the specific drugs that are used will be determined by the procedure itself. Your doctor will also take into account your general health and other factors, including your tolerance for pain.
Concerns on the safety of anesthesia:
Doctors assure that anesthesia are very safe these days. U.S. statistics show that over the past few decades, the risk of death from all forms of anesthesia has dropped from 1 in 4,500 in 1970 to 1 in 400,000 today. In the past 20 years alone, the number of deaths from general anesthesia has fallen by more than 95 percent. Experts attribute this improvement to the development of safer, faster-acting drugs and more sophisticated monitoring equipment that gauges the breathing rates, blood-oxygen levels, and even brain waves of sedated patients. By carefully measuring your vital functions while you are anesthetized, doctors can almost invariably avoid serious problems.
Preparing to undergo surgery:
To reduce the risk of complications, before surgery your anesthesiologist will discuss your medical history, including the prescription and nonprescription medications you take, your allergies (particularly to medications), any previous experience you or your relatives have had with anesthesia, medical problems (especially asthma), and such lifestyle habits as smoking, drinking, or using recreational drugs. After the evaluation, it is crucial that you follow all presurgical instructions your anesthesiologist gives you to the letter.
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