Understanding General Anesthesia in Surgical Procedures

What is the term used when a surgeon administers anesthesia that is not local?

Options: 1. Sedation 2. Regional anesthesia 3. General anesthesia 4. Topical anesthesia

Answer:

When a surgeon administers anesthesia that is not local, it is known as general anesthesia.

General anesthesia involves using anesthetics to induce a reversible loss of consciousness, allowing patients to undergo surgical procedures without feeling pain or sensations. These anesthetics can be delivered in various forms including gases or vapors (inhalational anesthetics) or injections (intravenous or intramuscular anesthetics).

Injectable anesthetics like propofol and etomidate are commonly used to induce unconsciousness, whereas inhalational anesthetics such as halothane are used to maintain it during surgery. An important aspect of the administration of general anesthetics is the mode of delivery, which often starts with an injection to induce anesthesia followed by a gas to maintain it, using an anesthesia machine to monitor and regulate the mixture of oxygen, anesthetics, and ambient air.