Surgery and other medical procedures are often associated with pain and other sensations. To control pain during these procedures, medical practitioners use medicine known as anesthetics. The medicine helps to control breathing, blood flow, blood pressure as well as heart rate and rhythm. Depending on the situation, other medicines can be used alongside anesthetics to help the patient to relax or to reverse the effects of anesthetics. Before using these medicines during various procedures, it is important to understand several facts about them as well as how they work. This will help in choosing the best anesthetic management solutions.
Types of anesthesia
In general, there are three types of anesthesia. Each of the three types serves a special purpose during various procedures. Local anesthesia is used during minor procedures since it temporarily numbs a small part of the body. Regional anesthesia is an injection that controls pain over a larger part of the body while general anesthesia has an effect on the patient’s brain and by extension the whole body.
To determine the type of anesthesia to be used, anesthesiologists will consider the patient’s past and present medical condition, the nature of surgery or medical procedure to be performed and the results of various medical tests done on the patient.
Benefits of anesthesia
Anesthesia has changed the way surgical, and other medical procedures are performed. Today, the medicines are associated with many benefits.
- It blocks pain – anesthesia helps to block memory and awareness, effectively blocking pain during surgical procedures. This makes it possible for such procedures to be done effectively and within the projected period.
- Helpful during surgery – when medical practitioners are uncertain about the duration of surgery, they are likely to use anesthesia. The medicines will cause the patient to go unconscious over the duration of the surgical procedure, with such effects being reversed when the procedure is finished.
- Helps to address anxiety – some patients are known to experience anxiety and depression before undergoing surgery. Anesthesia helps such patients to relax, a factor that helps to avoid complications.
Risks involved
For all the benefits associated with anesthesia, they are known to have some risks. Some of the common side effects include a sore throat, vomiting, pneumonia, heart problems, headaches and effects on the brain. The risks of anesthesia will depend on the type of anesthesia used, the health condition of the patient, the age and the patient’s response to other drugs.
Balancing the benefits and risks
Before every procedure, it is important to ensure that the benefits of anesthesia will outweigh the risks. A doctor or anesthesiologist examine the patient and supervise administration depending on the health condition of the patient.
All patients have a right to know before any anesthesia management solutions and treatments are used on them.
