General anesthesia (another name - general anesthesia) refers to the most complex type of anesthesia. Its main difference is the complete shutdown of the patient’s consciousness. Such anesthesia provides complete analgesia (lack of pain), amnesia (lack of memory of the operation) and relaxation (relaxation of all muscles of the body). That is, general anesthesia is a very deep sleep, which is caused with the help of special medicines.
Objectives of General Anesthesia
The main goal is to slow down the body's reactions to surgery. At the same time, sleep caused by medications is only a component of general anesthesia. During anesthesia, it is also important to significantly reduce or suppress autonomic reactions to surgical trauma, manifested by tachycardia, hypertension, and other phenomena that occur when the mind is turned off. Another goal of anesthesia is muscle relaxation, that is, the relaxation of muscle fibers necessary for surgeons to work. But still the main priority remains the fight against pain.
How is anesthesia classified?By the type of effect, anesthesia is:
- pharmacodynamic, in which only drugs are used;
- electron anesthesia caused by exposure to an electric field;
- Hypnosis caused by hypnosis.
The application 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 body functions.
How does general anesthesia go?
Each stage of anesthesia has its own characteristics, due to inhibition of some structures of the spinal cord and brain. The initial stage is characterized by a state of stunning. 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, reflexes are preserved, pain sensations disappear or become dull. As the effect of anesthesia intensifies, the next stage occurs - surgical anesthesia. Anesthetists divide this stage into four parts:
- Narcosis is superficial. Sensitivity disappears - tactile and painful. Some reflexes disappear. The breath is rhythmic and deep. The pulse is fast.
- Anesthesia is light. Eyeballs take center stage. Pupils react poorly to a light stimulus. Skeletal muscles are almost completely relaxed. Pulse and breathing are rhythmic.
- Anesthesia is complete. The breath is superficial and even. The pulse is rhythmic. There may be a retraction of the tongue in the absence of its fixation.
- Anesthesia is super deep. The breath is jerky, shallow. Weak pulse. The mucous membranes are cyanotic. The pupil is dilated, the cornea is dry.
General anesthesia: consequences of use
Following general anesthesia, the patient may experience the following side effects: nausea, sore throat, trembling, dizziness, itching, headache, back and back pain, trauma to the tongue, lips, teeth, waking up during surgery, nerve damage, allergic reaction , brain damage to the brain, death.
Sometimes anesthesia of the whole body is used in such medical areas as dentistry. General anesthesia should be used after a complete examination of the patient.