Every year, World Anaesthesia Day is observed on 16th October. The day marks the very first time, ether anaesthesia was used by an American dentist, William T. G. Morton in 1846. The day was marked by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and over 150 countries participate in it every year. Discovery of anesthesia introduced a way to conduct painless surgeries.
What You Need To Know About Anaesthesia?
The Association of Anaesthetists explains, “Anaesthesia is given to patients so that surgery and other medical procedures can be carried out safely, and without pain.
The word anaesthesia means ‘loss of sensation’. People under anaesthetic will ‘lose’ feelings of pain and other sensations.
Anaesthesia can be relatively simple, like numbing an area around a tooth during dental treatment, or something more complex, like using powerful drugs to cause unconsciousness. The drugs used in anaesthesia work by blocking the signals that pass along your nerves to your brain. When the drugs wear off, you start to feel normal sensations again.
Anaesthesia is usually given by specially trained doctors called anaesthetists. The association further explains that Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are responsible for providing anaesthesia to patients for operations and procedures. In addition anaesthetists have a range of practice which extends beyond anaesthesia for surgery to include pain management and intensive care.
Types Of Anaesthesia
Basically there are 3 types of anaesthesia that are used as per the requirements of the patient. Each type may serve a different purpose. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) states the following 3 types:
- General anaesthesia
You are put into a state of unconsciousness for the duration of the operation. This is usually achieved by injecting drugs through a cannula placed in a vein and maintained with intravenous drugs or a mixture of gases which you will breathe. While you remain unaware of what is happening around you, the anaesthetist monitors your condition closely and constantly adjusts the level of anaesthesia. You will often be asked to breathe oxygen through a mask just before your anaesthesia starts. - Regional anaesthesia
A nerve block numbs the part of the body where the surgeon operates and this avoids the need for general anaesthesia. You may be awake or sedated. Examples of regional anaesthesia include epidurals for labour, spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section and ‘eye blocks’ for cataracts. - Local anaesthesia
A local anaesthetic drug is injected at the site of the surgery to cause numbness. You will be awake but feel no pain. An obvious example of local anaesthesia is numbing an area of skin before having a cut stitched.
How Is Anaesthesia Given?
Anaesthesia can be given in various ways. The most common ones are:
- Injecting into the vein
- In the form of gas that you breathe in
- In the form of spray or drops, etc.
Side Effects Of Anaesthesia
The most common side effects that one may face usually after general or regional anaesthesia, as explained by the National Health Service (NHS) are:
- feeling or being sick
- dizziness and feeling faint
- feeling cold or shivering
- headaches
- itchiness
- bruising and soreness
- difficulty peeing
- aches and pains
“The side effects of anaesthetic usually do not last very long and, if necessary, some of them can be treated”.
Anaesthesia is the best way to undergo a painless surgery. However, usually your anesthetists' will talk to you prior to conducting a surgery and giving anaesthesia. He/she will also explain to you about the side effects or risks of further complications, if any.
