General anesthesia, popularly referred to as "generalanesthesia "performs a very important medical function - pain relief during surgery. It is through anesthesia that the patient without pain suffers an operation that prolongs his life.
General anesthesia. What is it and what is the purpose of its use
At its core, anesthesia is a very deep sleep, which is artificially caused by a special medication. By its properties, such a dream is very similar to a biological one.
Of the several types of anesthesia, general anesthesiais one of the most difficult. Compared with other types of anesthesia, general anesthesia has one major difference: when using it, not only organs are anesthetized, but the patient’s consciousness is also turned off.
When using general anesthesia is providedanalgesia, amnesia and relaxation. During general anesthesia, the patient relaxes all the muscles of the body, in addition, he does not feel pain and does not remember the process of the operation.
In this case, disconnection of all sensitivities, such as pain, temperature and many others.
That is, the main task of general anesthesia isintroducing a person into a state in which he cannot move, feel the surgeon’s operative intervention and receive any emotions from the operation.
Types of anesthesia
General anesthesia is divided into 3 types, depending onroute of administration in the body of anesthetics (drugs for anesthesia). Anesthetics can be administered to the patient by inhalation (using a facial mask), intravenously (using a catheter) and in a combined way.
If held short-term (up to 30 minutes)operation, there is no risk that the gastric contents get into the lungs (aspiration), and at the same time the patient maintains normal breathing, an additional device that ensures the airway patency is not needed. In this case, you can use these types of anesthesia, as a mask or intravenous.
If during anesthesia in a patientbreathing problems are observed, or there is a risk of aspiration, the anesthesiologist uses a special device that provides airway and protects the lungs from aspiration. In this situation, general anesthesia has a name - intubation. Under such circumstances, antiseptics can be administered to the patient either inhalation, intravenously, or in combination.
How do general anesthesia
Независимо от выбранного пути введения препарата, the anesthesiologist performs the same procedure. He or his assistant punctures any peripheral vein, such as the forearm or hand, and inserts a special plastic catheter (such as a butterfly or a vasofix) into it. Then the doctor attaches a special clip to the finger, which monitors the patient's breathing. After that, the anesthesiologist puts on a special cuff on the shoulder, with the help of which blood pressure is measured, and attaches special electrodes to his chest, thanks to which he monitors the patient's heartbeat. After connecting all the necessary, you can begin to enter general anesthesia.
Что это такое?Why do you need this cardio-respiratory monitoring? Namely, in order to be able to continuously monitor the work of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, constantly monitoring the condition of the patient.
Only after full monitoring is open.performance of the heart and respiration, introduced a catheter, which gives access for drug administration, and the drugs are collected in syringes, the anesthesiologist starts to anesthetize the body with a specific type of anesthesia.
How much away from general anesthesia
It is not so easy to say how long the patientwill be able to move he anesthesia. It all depends on some points, such as the type and duration of the operation, the type and dosage of anesthesia and various other indicators.
On awakening from general anesthesia sometimes leavesa few minutes and sometimes a few hours. Basically, after the operation is completed, the doctor awakens the patient while he is still in the operating room, but he only regains consciousness after some time.
Drugs for general anesthesia
Choose drugs for anesthesia depending onthe method by which the anesthetic will be administered. If an inhalation method is used, and the patient inhales vapors or gases through an intubation tube or a special mask, drugs such as diethyl ether, diazota oxide, isoflurane, enflurane or fluorothane can be used.
Non-inhalation methods can be intravenous, intraintestinal, intramuscular, or oral. For pediatric anesthesia, the last 3 methods are most often used.
Неингаляционными анестетиками могут быть такие drugs like Propofol, Altezin, Propanidide, Ketamine, Viadril, sodium oxybutyrate and various barbiturators, such as sodium thiopental or Hexenal.
What drug will be administered to a specificpatient, you can check with the anesthesiologist, who will select the drug, making general anesthesia. “What is it, how much time will be spent on rehabilitation, and what side effects from the drug” - all these questions can, without hesitation, ask the doctor who is obliged to answer them.
Side effects of general anesthesia
Of course, general anesthesia does not pass without a traceit leaves behind both side effects and some kind of complication. General anesthesia during surgery foreshadows after its use such symptoms as:
- headache and dizziness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- inhibition of thinking;
- confusion;
- hallucinations;
- sleep disturbance;
- muscle pain;
- numbness of the limbs;
- chills;
- itching;
- impaired speech;
- hearing loss;
- sore throat.
Such symptoms persist during the period when a person moves away from anesthesia, rarely unpleasant consequences can be felt for two days.
Some effects of anesthesia
Also, after anesthesia, somecomplications or allergic reactions. On the part of the cardiovascular system, cardiac arrest may be observed. On the part of the respiratory system - pulmonary infection or respiratory depression. On the part of the nervous system - in some areas a violation of sensitivity.
The main thing is if you experience any obscure symptoms in time to contact your doctor. This will help avoid serious postoperative effects and recover faster.
Often patients are afraid of the term alone."general anesthesia". What is it - you have already learned, anesthesia is not something terrible, it is just an auxiliary action during the operation, and if used correctly, the harm from anesthesia is minimal, any anesthesiologist can confirm.
