Types of anesthesia include general, regional, and local anesthesia. In this article, we will learn about these types, and the most prominent side effects resulting from anesthesia. What is anesthesia? Anesthesia is defined as giving drugs that numb the body, with the aim of performing major surgeries such as: open heart operations, or small procedures such as: tooth extraction without feeling pain.
The type of anesthesia used for each procedure often depends on
The type of surgery.
The patient''s health condition.
Duration of the surgical procedure.
Opinion of the anesthesiologist and surgeon responsible for the procedure.
What are the types of anesthesia?
Types of anesthesia include the following
1. General anesthesia
General anesthesia is the most common type of anesthesia in major operations such as: heart surgery, joint replacement, etc. General anesthesia is given through a mask or intravenously.
When using general anesthesia, the patient remains unconscious and does not feel pain, and he needs to monitor his vital signs continuously, and sometimes he needs a respirator to help him breathe.
After completing the surgery, the anesthesiologist begins to cancel the effect of general anesthesia, as the patient usually wakes up in a good condition after general anesthesia, but sometimes the patient may suffer from some side effects of anesthesia.
2. Regional anesthesia
Regional anesthesia is used to numb the body at the surgical site only. Forms of local anesthesia include the following:
Spinal anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia is done by injecting a single dose of medication into the area around the spinal cord. This type is often used in lower extremity or lower abdominal surgery.
Epidural anesthesia
Epidural anesthesia is done by injecting medication through a thin catheter into the space around the spinal cord, which causes numbness in the lower part of the body.
This type can be used in abdominal and thoracic surgery.
3. Local anesthesia
Local anesthesia is usually used for minor surgical procedures such as a biopsy of the skin. This anesthesia is done by applying a cream, spray, or syringe to the area of the surgical procedure.
What are the side effects of each type of anesthesia?
The side effects resulting from anesthesia vary according to the type of anesthesia, as they include the following:
1. Side effects of general anesthesia
Side effects of general anesthesia include the following
Nausea.
chills.
vomiting.
Sore throat.
Vertigo.
2. Side effects of regional anesthesia
Side effects of regional anesthesia include the following
Allergic reaction to anesthesia.
Bleeding around the spinal cord.
Spinal cord inflammation.
cramps.
severe headache
difficulty urinating
Nerve destruction.
in blood pressure
3. Side effects of local anesthesia
The side effects of local anesthesia are often few, including the following
Allergic reaction to anesthesia.
Pain in the area of anesthesia.
