In our country, quite a lot of people were faced with the fact that they needed anesthesia. For many surgical operations today, general anesthesia is used. However, it is hard to say how this or that pain medication will affect the human body. Many factors influence the tolerance of anesthesia at once. These include gender, age, drug or alcohol addiction, general health, various pathologies. The main problem is that the effect of anesthesia on the human body can manifest itself some time later after the operation. In this article we will consider what a general anesthesia is and what the consequences of its use can be.
basic information
General anesthesia is a type of anesthesia in which a person is artificially introduced into an unconscious state. It is usually used to block soreness during various medical procedures and surgical interventions. To achieve the loss of pain, it is necessary to take special medications, selected in a certain dosage. Such drugs contribute to the immersion of the cortical centers of the brain in narcotic sleep. Medicines can penetrate the human body in various ways: by inhalation or in the form of parenteral administration.
Stages
Let's look at them in more detail. How does anesthesia affect the human body? Exposure to anesthetics occurs in several stages:
- Analgesia: at this stage, there is a loss of sensation and a gradual loss of consciousness.
- Stage of excitement: it is caused by some means. This stage is characterized by short-term excitability of the brain centers.
- Surgical stage: loss of all types of sensitivity and excitability.
- Awakening: painful syndromes, motor abilities and consciousness are gradually returning.
Many are interested in whether anesthesia is harmful to the human body. All types of anesthesia can provoke some changes in the human condition. As a rule, this is determined by the properties of the selected drug and the individual characteristics of the body.
Types of anesthesia
Let's dwell on this in more detail. The consequences of general anesthesia on the human body depend on its variety. A single use of painkillers usually does not pose a particular threat to humans. To enter the patient into a state of sleep, various preparations containing analgesics, antipsychotics, anesthetics can be used. There are several varieties of general anesthesia.
Allocate:
- Inhalation method: the drug enters the bloodstream through the lungs by breathing in a gaseous state. As a rule, this format of anesthesia is used in dental clinics.
- Non-inhalation method: drugs are administered intravenously or intramuscularly. This technique is used less frequently than the first.
This method of drug administration can be divided into:
- The introduction of drugs into the venous blood. Commonly used drugs are Thiopental, Ketamine, Rekofol. They lead to a slight relaxation of the muscles and deep sleep while maintaining respiratory ability.
- Neuroleptanalgesia. It is a superficial method of analgesia. Causes lethargy and drowsiness. It is usually carried out with the help of "Fentanyl" and "Droperidolum".
- Ataralgesia. The loss of pain is achieved by taking tranquilizers such as Fentanyl and Diazepam.
- Combined methods. When using this option, substances of different pharmacological groups are gradually ingested into the body: these are antipsychotics, analgesics, and anesthetics. Means for inhalation are administered along with such relaxants as Arduan and Ditilin. These substances are responsible for blocking neuromuscular impulses. The result is a complete loss of respiratory ability. This condition can be very dangerous. As a rule, this type of anesthesia is used in conjunction with hardware ventilation and tracheal intubation.
What is the danger?
This issue should be given special attention. How does general anesthesia affect the human body? In 99% of cases, analgesia works well. However, complications are possible in 1%. It is for this reason that during surgery, the anesthesiologist must monitor the patient's condition. In this case, the doctor, suspecting something is amiss, will be able to urgently provide assistance.
Many patients ask quite logical questions about how anesthesia affects the human body and whether it is possible to die from it. Of course, in medical practice there have been cases of a fatal reaction. However, the development of modern technology has significantly reduced the likelihood of death.
Medical centers today use various methods that help minimize the negative impact of general anesthesia on the human body. However, even such methods do not completely eliminate the occurrence of the dangerous consequences of anesthesia, leading to a significant deterioration in the general condition.
Possible complications
So what to expect? As a rule, after surgery, when moving away from general anesthesia, symptoms such as:
- mild cramps;
- nausea;
- sore throat;
- headache;
- disorientation in space;
- sensation of itching;
- back and lower back pain;
- blurred consciousness;
- muscle aches.
Such an effect of anesthesia on the human body usually lasts a short time. During the first 24 hours after the operation, all symptoms disappear.
Effects
Is a longer effect of anesthesia on the human body possible? The consequences may remain quite a while after surgical procedures.
For example, patients are sometimes observed:
- Panic attacks: usually represent uncontrolled attacks of fear that can disrupt the usual rhythm of life.
- Impaired memory: Cases of short-term amnesia are often observed. Sometimes children after surgery cannot remember the elementary rules that took place at school.
- Disturbances in the work of the heart muscle, tachycardia, increased heart rate.
- High blood pressure.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
How does anesthesia affect the human body? Half a century ago, in 70% of cases of general anesthesia, negative consequences were observed. Today, only one out of 3-4 thousand operations ends in death.
How does anesthesia affect the general condition?
What you need to know about this? Before performing a surgical operation under general anesthesia, a specialist should choose a method of anesthesia. It takes into account many factors, including the individual characteristics of a person. What is harmful anesthesia for the human body? Most often, after exiting this condition, adults encounter such negative manifestations as sleep, hearing, speech, headache, memory impairment and hallucinations. As a rule, after a certain period of time, all these violations pass.
Serious complications
The human body after anesthesia can recover in different ways. Someone easily tolerates anesthesia, and someone needs a lot of time to recover.
Complications arising after anesthesia include:
- asthma attacks;
- swelling of the respiratory system;
- vomiting
- inflammatory processes;
- cerebral edema;
- cerebrovascular accident;
- asthenia;
- renal failure.
It is impossible to say unequivocally how anesthesia will affect the body. Here, everything largely depends on the type of anesthesia, the method of its use and the duration of use. You should also take into account such a feature as individual sensitivity to medications.
Effects on the brain
How does it manifest? Anesthesia during operations has a negative effect on the brain. Most patients report a mental disorder, decreased concentration, and memory impairment. Such complications can occur gradually and are temporary.
The most common consequences of anesthesia include asthenic syndrome. It can be accompanied by significant changes in the central nervous system. First, symptoms such as sleep disturbance, insomnia, depression, sudden mood changes, frequent fatigue, decreased performance. Secondary signs are distraction, difficulty remembering, and a loss of learning ability. These manifestations usually gradually disappear 3 months after surgery.
Causes of complications
So what can they appear for? How does the human body react after anesthesia? What are the complications? It is believed that the reasons may be that drugs lower blood pressure. Anesthetics can even cause a microstroke. As a rule, this proceeds completely imperceptibly for a person. In addition, if after surgery the patient refused to take antispasmodics, he may develop an inflammatory process. In childhood and old age, the occurrence of asthenic syndrome is more likely. Chronic diseases, prolonged use of pain medications and severe postoperative trauma can also contribute to the development of such complications.
How does anesthesia affect the heart?
What to expect The effect of anesthesia on the body of a person suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system is difficult to predict. Therefore, before applying general anesthesia, a full examination must be taken. Only by its results can a specialist evaluate the general health of the patient and recommend a type of anesthesia. Methods and means of drug administration can affect the heart. Some cores tolerate anesthesia well, others experience various unpleasant symptoms. These include: a feeling of tightness in the chest, painful and stitching sensations, rapid pulse, fever.
Anesthesia affects the conduction system of the heart, which can cause arrhythmia. Such phenomena, fortunately, do not last long. In some cases, the pathology persists.
Effect on the female body
What can happen? Doctors do not recommend using anesthesia during pregnancy. Painkillers are toxic and can adversely affect the baby's health. Anesthetics are not allowed in the 1-2 trimester. It was at this time that the fetal organs were laid. Anesthesia can inhibit their development, which in the future can provoke various internal and external deviations. Anesthesia is also not recommended in the middle of 3 trimesters. This can lead to bleeding, miscarriage, or premature birth.
When performing a caesarean section, general anesthesia is used.
It may have the following consequences:
- headache;
- dizziness;
- nausea;
- muscle spasms;
- decrease in concentration;
- blurred consciousness;
- convulsive syndromes.
The effect of anesthesia on the child
Kids, as a rule, endure anesthesia without any problems and quickly forget its consequences. This is one of the features of child psychology. The response to pain medication is strictly individual. Any intervention can adversely affect the development and growth of the child. Most often, in children using general anesthesia, complications such as allergic reactions and disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle occur. Anesthesia can also disrupt the central nervous system and has an effect on the rate of development. Possible consequences of anesthesia in childhood are anaphylaxis, Quincke's edema and coma. However, such symptoms are extremely rare.
Conclusion
In this article, we examined how anesthesia affects the human body. The consequences of anesthesia are largely determined by individual characteristics. Often, after anesthesia, a person feels nauseous, headache, dizziness and disorientation. This is quite normal, some time later all the symptoms will go away.