Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia is the process of numbing an area with the use of anaesthetic medication to prevent the sensation of pain. There are three types of anaesthesia; they are known as local, regional and general.

Local anaesthesia

Local anaesthesia typically involves using an injection of local anaesthetic; however creams can also be used to numb a small area, usually surrounding the affected area only. Local anaesthesia is used principally for minor surgical procedures. Local anaesthetics temporarily breakdown the delivery of pain signals running from the nerves to the brain, meaning that patients do not feel pain. The most common local anaesthetics include lidocaine, which can be injected or placed on the membrane surface and the eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) cream, which is often applied to numb an area prior to a painful experience such as an injection.

Regional anaesthesia

Regional anaesthesia involves the same process as local anaesthesia but is focused on a larger area of the body and is commonly used in more complicated procedures. Regional anaesthesia can be used to eliminate pain from a particular area of the body such as a leg or an arm while the rest of the body remains conscious; the epidural offered to women during labour is an example of regional anaesthesia.

General anaesthesia

General anaesthesia is used for major surgery and involves inducing a state of total unconsciousness in order to prevent the sensation of pain; the individual will feel nothing whilst under the influence of general anaesthesia. General anaesthetic can be administered by injection or in the form of a gas, which the patient must inhale through a mask, the effects are fairly quick and the patient will slip gently into an unconscious state. It is important to follow the advice of healthcare professionals prior to being anaesthetised; often, patients are not allowed to eat or drink for a certain period of time before an operation.

Anaesthesia disables the body’s ability to swallow and therefore if there is food in your stomach during a period of anaesthesia it could come up into your lungs and the body will not be able to react; this can cause considerable damage to the lungs. When patients come around after a surgical procedure it can take a while for the effects of the anaesthetic to wear off and they may feel drowsy, nauseous and light-headed. Undergoing general anaesthesia does carry risks and is not suitable for everyone; those who suffer from pre-existing medical conditions may be advised to consider alternative medical treatment; an anaesthetist will be able to discuss and explain all the options available with each patient before they decide what course of action to take.

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