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Anesthesia is the use of medicines called anesthetics to prevent pain during surgery and other procedures. They can be given by injection, inhalation, lotion, spray, eye drops or a skin patch, and can take away feeling, awareness, or both.
Types of anesthesia
| Type | What it does | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Local | numbs a small area, such as a tooth or a cut needing stitches; you stay awake | minor procedures, such as filling a tooth |
| Regional | numbs a larger area — an arm, a leg, or everything below the waist; you may be awake or sedated | childbirth, Cesarean delivery (C-section), minor surgery |
| General | affects your whole body; like a deep sleep, and you feel nothing | major surgery — heart, brain and back surgery, organ transplants |
| Monitored sedation | makes you relaxed or sleepy; you may be able to talk, and probably won't remember the procedure | colonoscopy, dental work |
Sedation
Sedation may be used with anesthesia. It doesn't make you completely unconscious, and recovery is faster. It eases pain, keeps you calm and makes you less aware during things like minor surgery, endoscopy, imaging or dental work.
| Level | How you feel |
|---|---|
| Minimal | awake but more relaxed |
| Moderate (conscious sedation) | sleepy, may not remember much, but still respond to voice or touch |
| Deep | very drowsy; may respond only to repeated or stronger stimulation |
Who gives it
A dentist, nurse or doctor may give you an anesthetic. Sometimes you need an anesthesiologist — a doctor who specializes in anesthesia. The type you get depends on your overall health, medical history, the procedure and other factors.
Risks
Anesthesia is generally safe, but there can be risks, especially with general anesthesia:
- heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia);
- breathing problems;
- an allergic reaction to the anesthetic;
- temporary confusion (delirium) — lasting several days in some people over 60, or briefly in children as they wake up;
- awareness under general anesthesia — usually hearing sounds, and rarely feeling pain.
Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks.
Sources
Based on "Anesthesia," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licens: CC0 1.0 (offentligt eje) · Bearbejdet efter medlineplus.gov
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