The terms general anesthesia and sedation are often confused. In order to differentiate between them, it is necessary to take into account the degree of anesthetic depth, which causes the loss of basic reflexes.
In sedation the patient is breathing spontaneously at all times, whereas with general anesthesia the patient usually loses the respiratory impulse, requiring manual or mechanical respiratory assistance.
What are the risks of anesthesia?
Today there are many devices that allow the dose of anesthesia to be adjusted exactly to the needs of each patient, which reduces any type of risk. However, there are certain types of anesthesia that present a greater risk, such as cardiac surgery and intracerebral surgery.
In addition, complications also depend on the type of patient, since they increase in severely polytraumatized people or people with extreme ages such as small babies, premature babies or elderly people with low cardiac and pulmonary reserve.
How long does the effect of anesthesia last?
In anesthesia administered by inhalation, the effect of the drug is eliminated through the lungs with each breath. In intravenous anesthesia, on the other hand, the effect disappears as it is metabolized by the liver and kidneys. In addition, in anesthesia applied by means of local drugs in the nerves and medulla, the results disappear more slowly.
On the other hand, the duration of anesthesia also depends on the drug used, which must always be adjusted to the patient and the type of surgery.
Is it true that anesthesia can be vomited or urinated?
Anesthesia is not vomited or urinated, but rather metabolized by the liver or kidneys. In other words, this is not true and is rather a very old myth. However, some anesthetic drugs can cause nausea and vomiting as a side effect.
Nowadays, to reduce these adverse effects, doses are adjusted or other drugs are administered to eliminate nausea.
What are the most commonly used types of anesthesia?
- General anesthesia: intravenous or inhalation drugs.
- Regional anesthesia: this type of anesthesia includes spinal anesthesia, which is administered in the spinal cord, and nerve blocks, in which the nerves that carry sensation to the area to be operated on are surrounded.