General anesthesia. Types and consequences

General anesthesia (also known as general anesthesia) refers to the most complicated kind of anesthesia. The main difference is the complete disconnection of the patient's consciousness. Such anesthesia provides complete analgesia (no pain), amnesia (lack of memories of the operation) and relaxation (relaxation of all the muscles of the body). That is, general anesthesia is a very deep sleep, which is caused by special medications.

Objectives of general anesthesia

The main goal is to slow down the body's reactions to surgical intervention. In this case, sleep caused by medications is only a component of general anesthesia. When carrying out anesthesia, it is also important to significantly reduce or suppress vegetative reactions to surgical trauma, manifested by tachycardia, hypertension and other phenomena that occur with the mind switched off. Another goal of anesthesia is muscle relaxation, that is, relaxation of the muscle fibers necessary for the work of surgeons. But still the main priority is the fight against pain.

How is anesthesia classified?

By type of exposure, anesthesia can occur:

• Pharmacodynamic, in which only medicines are used;
• Electrocardiosis caused by the action of an electric field;
• Hyponarcosis caused by hypnosis.

The application of the last two at the present time is very limited.

By quantity of used medicines:

• Mononarcosis - only one drug is used;
• Mixed - more than two medicines are used;
• Combined - throughout the operation, various means for anesthesia or their combination with drugs that selectively act on certain functions of the body are used.

How is general anesthesia going?

Each stage of anesthesia has its own peculiarities, caused by inhibition of some structures of the spinal cord and brain. The initial stage is characterized by a state of stunning. Respiration is rhythmic and deep, the eyeball movements are arbitrary, the pulse is increased, the tone of the muscle fibers is increased or the former, reflexes are preserved, the pain sensations disappear or become dulled. As the effect of anesthesia intensifies, the next stage is surgical anesthesia. Anesthesiologists divide this stage into four parts:

1. Anesthesia superficial. Disappears sensitivity - tactile and painful. Some reflexes disappear. Breathing is rhythmic and deep. The pulse is rapid.
2. Anesthesia is easy. Eyeballs take a central position. Pupils react weakly to light stimulus. Skeletal muscles are almost completely relaxed. Pulse and breathing are rhythmic.
3. Anesthesia full. Breath is superficial and smooth. Pulse is rhythmic. It can be a tongue-in-cheek in the absence of its fixation.
4. Anesthesia superdeep. Breathing is jerky, superficial. Weak pulse. Mucous membranes are cyanotic. The pupil is dilated, the cornea is dry.

General anesthesia: consequences of use

After general anesthesia, the patient may experience the following side effects: nausea, sore throat, shivering, dizziness, itching, headache, back and back pain, trauma to the tongue, lips, teeth, awakening 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.