Modern surgery is possible because of the development of safe and effective anesthesia. Without the ability to eliminate pain, most surgical procedures could not be performed.
Anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist, a doctor who undergoes several years of specialized training after the completion of medical school. Anesthesia is sometimes administered by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). A CRNA is a registered nurse who has undergone advanced training in anesthesia. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are able to administer anesthesia during a surgical procedure, but usually work under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.
Types
There are three main types of anesthesia: local , regional , and general . The type of anesthesia used for a surgical procedure is determined by several factors:
Type and length of the surgery Patient healthPreference of the patient and physician Local Anesthesia Local anesthesia blocks the nerves in a small, specific area of the body. For example, if a surgical procedure is performed on the right hand, a local anesthetic is used to numb that hand without affecting any other part of the body.
This type of anesthesia is generally used for minor surgeries (e.g., breast biopsies, vasectomies) and to stitch small wounds. It is usually administered by injection, which can be painful. However, the discomfort only lasts for a brief moment, and the anesthesia usually takes effect very quickly.
Sometimes local anesthesia is applied topically, as a spray or a cream. Cocaine is used medically as a sprayed anesthetic to numb the inside of the nose and throat. For the removal of a growth on the surface of the skin, an anesthetic cream can be applied to numb the area.
In minimally invasive procedures that can be completed in a few minutes, an injection of local anesthesia is all that is used. More involved operations require sedation with the anesthesia to make the patient more comfortable and the injection more tolerable. Sedatives relax the patient and induce drowsiness, but they do not put patients into a deep sleep. They are usually administered by injection or through an intravenous (IV), but can be given orally or by rectal suppository, particularly in children.
Regional Anesthesia Regional anesthesia numbs a large area, or region, of the body and is used for more extensive and invasive surgery. Regional anesthesia is often used for procedures involving the lower part of the body, such as caesarian sections, prostate surgery, and operations on the legs. For example, if regional anesthesia is used for prostate surgery, the patient is numb from his navel to his toes. Some patients feel pressure or tugging during surgery performed under regional anesthesia.
The most common types of regional anesthesia are spinals and epidurals. Spinal anesthesia is injected into the spinal fluid with a special needle that penetrates the spinal column through the back.
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