Anesthesia is a medical specialty that focuses on providing a controlled and reversible loss of sensation or awareness to allow medical procedures to be performed safely and comfortably.

Types of Anesthesia:

General Anesthesia:
➢ Renders the patient unconscious and without sensation for the duration of a surgical procedure.
➢ Administered through inhalation or intravenous injection.
➢ Requires careful monitoring of vital signs during the entire procedure.

Regional Anesthesia:
➢ Blocks sensation in a specific part of the body, such as an arm, leg, or the lower half of the body.
➢ Common types include epidural and spinal anesthesia.
➢ Often used for procedures like joint replacement or childbirth.

Local Anesthesia:
➢ Numbs a small, specific area of the body.
➢ Typically administered via injection or topically applied.
➢ Used for minor procedures like suturing a wound or removing a small skin lesion.

Anesthesia Team:

Anesthesiologist:
➢ A medical doctor specialized in anesthesia.
➢ Responsible for administering anesthesia, monitoring the patient’s vital signs, and managing pain before, during, and after surgery.

Nurse Anesthetist:
➢ A registered nurse with advanced training in anesthesia.
➢ Collaborates with anesthesiologists to administer anesthesia and monitor patients.