The Different Types Of Anesthesia

By Lila Barry


Anaesthesia refers to a condition whereby sensation is blocked temporarily or taken away. This is usually done during an operation that results into cutting of various areas hence the need to numb the body to ensure that someone does not feel the pain during the process. It is usually induced and leads to loss of muscle reflexes, responsiveness and one is normally in a state of amnesia. There are different types of anesthesia that may be used by doctors with each type suitable for a specific condition and area of the body.

One type of anaesthesia is local anaesthesia. It may be a cream that is applied onto a little area of the body to numb that part only. Doctors use it in minor surgical procedures whereby the patient is released exactly the same next day of the operation. Based on exactly what the physician may wish to achieve, someone may either be sedated or awake if this anaesthesia is being used.

Another common kind is called regional anaesthesia. When utilizing this type, the anaesthesia is used on a group of nerves. This therefore leads to numbing of a bigger area of the body for instance from the waist downwards. This kind is particularly used to make sure the patient feels safe throughout the surgical treatment and after the operation.

The doctor can also consider it important to use the general anaesthesia instead. When this one is used, the patient usually becomes completely unconscious throughout the procedure. Usually a person looks like they were sleeping and when they wake up they normally do not have any memory of what may have happened. This anaesthesia may be administered either through an injection into a vein or inhalation through a breathing mask.

Other types of anaesthesia include caudal anaesthesia. This one is used by doctors for areas around the legs, in the inner thighs, hips, buttocks and the area between the legs. It is another kind of regional anaesthesia since it is usually injected onto an area where there is a cluster of nerves and only is then usually numb.

Other types of regional anaesthesia that are used frequently include IV regional and interscalene block. Since they function differently, each is administered on a specific part of the body. For instance, the interscalene block is used on areas like the arm and shoulders while the IV regional one is normally used on the arm or leg.

In case one needs to be operated on the spine, they need to have the part from the waist downwards numb. Doctors therefore use spinal anaesthesia for this purpose. This is usually used in operations where the appendix is being removed or during childbirth.

All the different types of anesthesia that can be used by doctors are efficient. The doctor therefore determines the most suitable one depending on where the operation is going to be done. Doctors also determine first if the patient is allergic to any kind of anesthesia before using it. This is important as it can play a major role in avoiding a major problem from occurring. Depending also on the type of anaesthesia that is going to be used on you, it may be administered through injection or inhaling.




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