Anesthesia is a mandatory procedure for any surgical procedure. The science that deals with the reduction of suffering during surgery is called anesthesiology. In addition to surgery, anesthesia is also used in other branches of medicine. For example, in dentistry, during some instrumental examinations (FGDS, colonoscopy). To anesthetize a specific area, local anesthetics are used. Many surgical interventions require not only a local effect, but also the introduction of the patient into medical sleep. In another way, such anesthesia is called anesthesia.
Anesthetic is what?
In order to minimize pain, anesthetics are used. Depending on the severity of the treatment procedure, they select which substance should be used. Currently, preference is given to local anesthetics. The only exceptions are those cases when the surgical intervention is too extensive and takes a lot of time. Anesthesia is also used in operations in children and in people with mental disorders. Regardless of whether a general or local anesthetic is used, both of these types are anesthetics. The scope of their application is quite extensive. Anesthetic is a substance that helps relieve or completely relieve pain. For the most part, it is used for medical purposes. The main directions of its application:
- Surgery - all types of operations on internal organs.
- Dentistry - anesthesia in the treatment and extraction of teeth.
- Traumatology - with fractures, dislocations, sprains.
- Pharmacology - the addition of painkillers to various drugs (gels for teething, rectal suppositories against hemorrhoids).
- Visual diagnostics - local anesthetics during FGDS, bronchoscopy and colonoscopy.
Views
It should be remembered that an anesthetic is a drug needed for pain relief. Depending on the chemical structure, these drugs are divided into fast and short-acting, strong and weak, narcotic, etc. The classification is based on the nature of the effect on the human body. Based on this, painkillers are divided into local anesthetics and general anesthesia. Each of these groups has its own characteristics. And also anesthetics are divided among themselves depending on the method of administration of the drug.
General anesthesia involves systemic anesthesia and the introduction of a person into drug sleep. This type of anesthesia is used for massive and lengthy operations. Methods of administering drugs for general anesthesia are parenteral and inhalation.
Under local anesthesia is meant anesthesia of a part of the body on which medical manipulation will be performed. It is used for simple operations, dental treatment, as well as for invasive examinations.
Varieties of local anesthetics
For local anesthesia, various drugs are used. According to the chemical structure, they are divided into 2 main groups - substituted amides and esters of aromatic acids. Representatives of these groups are known to almost everyone - this is lidocaine and novocaine. In addition to the chemical composition, local anesthesia is classified by the method of administration. This separation is necessary in order to determine the depth and duration of the drug:
- Superficial anesthesia. This type of pain relief is the easiest. This method allows to reduce the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes. It is mainly used for superficial wounds.
- Infiltration anesthesia. The method consists in the layered administration of an anesthetic. It is used to make a deep incision not only on superficial tissues, but also deeper ones, such as subcutaneous fat and muscles.
- Conduction anesthesia In turn, this type of anesthesia is divided into epidural and spinal anesthesia.
The mechanism of action of anesthetics
Anesthetic is a medicine that contributes to the temporary loss of sensitivity of a particular site or organism as a whole. Each type of anesthesia has its own mechanism of action:
- Terminal anesthesia is characterized by loss of sensitivity of the superficial nerve endings located on the skin and mucous membranes. Medicines that are used for this type of pain relief are Benzocaine, Tetracaine (their prices fluctuate depending on the form of release).
- Infiltration anesthesia has a similar mechanism, the difference is that the active substance impregnates the body tissues throughout the depth of the incision. For this, Novocaine is used (30 rubles - 200 ml).
- Conduction anesthesia is to suppress the sensitivity of the entire nerve fiber (below the site of anesthesia). For this purpose, Bupivacaine and Articainum are used (300 rubles - 10 ampoules of 2 ml each).
- For general anesthesia, inhaled anesthetics are used, which penetrate the body through the lungs. They bind to receptors and cause not only analgesia, but also a sedative effect (sleep).
Indications for the use of anesthetics
There are many indications for the use of anesthetics. The most common of these are:
- Operations of any complexity, regardless of localization.
- Removal and treatment of teeth.
- Conducting invasive examination methods.
- Some cosmetic procedures (removal of papillomas on the skin and mucous membranes).
Anesthetics are added to various medications (candles, ointments, lozenges, wipes). They infect condoms and other contraceptives with painkillers.
In what cases are anesthetics contraindicated?
The main contraindication for the use of any type of pain medication is an allergic reaction to the drug. It is especially dangerous to use anesthetics in people with a history of anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema. Relative contraindications are pregnancy and lactation. In this case, they propose to postpone the manipulation, if it is not considered emergency (vital). For inhaled anesthetics, decompensated chronic diseases are a contraindication. This is especially true for cardiovascular pathologies and chronic renal failure. Contraindication for local anesthesia during surgical operations is considered to be children's age. Also, local anesthesia is not recommended for persons with mental illness. In these cases, general anesthesia is performed.
Side effects of anesthetics
Side effects of local anesthetics include allergic reactions in the form of anaphylactic shock, edema, urticaria, and itching. Conducting general anesthesia is dangerous by cardiac arrest or respiratory depression (with an overdose of the drug). Also, after inhalation and intravenous anesthesia, the patient may be disturbed by hallucinations, increased motor activity, and general weakness. All these phenomena should not exceed 24 hours from the moment of anesthesia.
Why use condoms with anesthetic?
Currently, there are many modifications of barrier contraceptives. One of them is condoms with an anesthetic. They are used to lengthen sexual contact. The mechanism of action is to reduce the sensitivity of the glans penis. For this purpose, an anesthetic is added to the condom lubricant. The price of these contraceptives is slightly higher compared to conventional condoms.