General anesthesia (another name - general anesthesia) refers to the most difficult type of anesthesia. Its main difference is the complete shutdown of the patient's consciousness. Such anesthesia provides complete analgesia (absence of pain), amnesia (absence of memories of the operation) and relaxation (relaxation of all the muscles of the body). That is, general anesthesia is a very deep sleep, which is caused with the help of special medications.
Goals of general anesthesia
The main goal is to slow down the body's response to surgery. At the same time, sleep caused by medications is only a component of general anesthesia. When conducting anesthesia, it is also important to significantly reduce or suppress autonomic reactions to surgical trauma, manifested by tachycardia, hypertension and other phenomena that occur even when consciousness is turned off. Another goal of anesthesia is muscle relaxation, that is, the relaxation of muscle fibers, which is necessary for the work of surgeons. But still the mainPain remains a priority.
How is anesthesia classified?
According to the type of impact, anesthesia happens:
- pharmacodynamic, which uses only drugs;
- electronarcosis caused by exposure to an electric field;
- hyponarcosis caused by hypnosis.
The use of the latter two is currently very limited.
By the number of medicines used:
- mononarcosis - only one drug is used;
- mixed - more than two medicines are used;
- combined - throughout the operation, various painkillers are used or their combination with drugs that selectively act on certain functions of the body.
How does general anesthesia work?
Each stage of anesthesia has its own characteristics, due to the inhibition of certain structures of the spinal cord and brain. The initial stage is characterized by a state of stun. The breathing is rhythmic and deep, the movements of the eyeball are arbitrary, the pulse is quickened, the tone of the muscle fibers is increased or the same, the reflexes are preserved, the pain sensations disappear or become dull. As the effect of anesthesia increases, the next stage comes - surgical anesthesia. Anesthesiologists divide this stage into four parts:
- Superficial anesthesia. Sensitivity disappears - tactile and painful. Some disappearreflexes. Breathing is rhythmic and deep. Pulse is fast.
- Anesthesia is easy. The eyeballs take a central position. Pupils react poorly to light stimulus. Skeletal muscles are almost completely relaxed. Pulse and breathing are rhythmic.
- Anesthesia is complete. Breathing is shallow and even. The pulse is rhythmic. There may be a retraction of the tongue in the absence of its fixation.
- Super-deep anesthesia. Breathing is jerky, superficial. Weak pulse. Mucous membranes are cyanotic. The pupil is dilated, the cornea is dry.
General anesthesia: consequences of use
After general anesthesia, the patient may experience the following side effects: nausea, sore throat, trembling, dizziness, itching, headache, lower back and back pain, trauma to the tongue, lips, teeth, awakening during surgery, nerve damage, allergic reaction, brain damage, death.
Sometimes full-body anesthesia is used in medical fields such as dentistry. General anesthesia should be used after a complete examination of the patient.
