In medicine, pain during surgery or other medical procedures can be relieved by administering anesthesia. Anesthesia itself means loss of feeling or sensation in the body, and there are various types.
Anesthesia works by stopping or blocking nerve signals from the pain center that the patient will feel during surgery or during certain medical procedures. Anesthesia can be given in various forms, such as an ointment, spray, injection, or gas that the patient must inhale.
Three Kinds of Anesthesia
Anesthesia can be divided into three types, namely local, regional and general anesthesia. Each type of anesthesia has a different way of working and a different purpose, here is an explanation:
1. Local anesthetic
Local anesthesia is performed by blocking sensation or pain in the area of the body to be operated on. This type of anesthesia does not affect consciousness, so the patient will remain conscious during surgery or medical procedures.
Local anesthetics can be used for minor or minor surgeries, such as dental work, wisdom tooth surgery and tooth extraction, eye surgery, mole removal procedures, and skin biopsies. This type of anesthetic can be given by injection, spray, or applied to the skin or mucous membranes to be operated on.
2. Regional anesthesia
Regional anesthesia is performed by blocking pain in a part of the body. As with local anaesthesia, the patient will remain awake during the operation, but will not be able to feel parts of his or her body.
In regional anesthesia, the drug will be given by injection near the spinal cord or around a nerve area. This injection will relieve pain in several parts of the body, such as the hips, stomach, arms, and legs.
There are several types of regional anesthesia, namely peripheral, epidural, and spinal nerve blocks. The most commonly used regional anesthetic is the epidural, which is commonly used during labour.
3. General anesthesia
General anesthesia or commonly known as general anesthesia is an anesthetic procedure that makes the patient unconscious during the operation. This type of anesthesia is often used for major surgeries, such as open heart surgery, brain surgery, or organ transplants.
This anesthetic can be given in two ways, namely through gas to be inhaled (inhalation) and drugs that are injected into a vein (intravenous).
General anesthesia is considered safe for most patients. However, in certain groups, such as the elderly, children, or patients whose condition is very bad, administration of this type of anesthesia must be done with extreme caution because it can cause dangerous complications.
The selection and administration of anesthesia will be adjusted to the patient's health condition, the medical procedure to be undertaken, and the length of the procedure to be performed.
Some Side Effects of Anesthesia
As with other medical procedures, anesthesia carries a risk of side effects, both mild and severe. The following are side effects that can occur due to anesthesia, based on the type of anesthesia:
Local anesthetic side effects:
- Pain, rash, and light bleeding at the injection site.
- Headache.
- Dizzy.
- Fatigue.
- Numbness at the injected area.
- Twitch in muscle tissue.
- Blurred vision.
Regional anesthetic side effects:
- Headache.
- Allergic reaction.
- Back pain.
- Bleeding.
- seizures.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Decrease in blood pressure.
- spinal infection.
General anesthesia side effects:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dry mouth.
- Sore throat.
- Hoarseness.
- Drowsiness.
- Shivering.
- There is pain and bruising at the injection or infusion area.
- Confusion.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Tooth decay.
The risk for experiencing side effects of anesthesia will be higher if the patient has certain diseases or health conditions, such as heart disease or obesity. Age that is too young or too old, smoking and consuming alcohol, and consumption of certain drugs will also increase the risk of side effects of anesthesia.
To prevent the emergence of side effects, the doctor or nurse will conduct a complete examination and tell what things are and can't be done before the operation takes place. For example, when to stop eating and drinking, or what drugs and supplements should not be taken before surgery.
If you are going to have an operation or a medical procedure, big or small, clearly ask the anesthesiologist who will treat you regarding the type and side effects of the anesthetic that will be used.