How does anesthesia affect the body?

Narcosis - what is worth knowing about it?

Anesthesia (in medical language - "anesthesia") is an anesthesia technique that resembles deep sleep. It involves the complete, controlled and reversible abolition of pain, consciousness and sometimes muscle tension. All this is done so that the operating team of doctors can perform the procedure safely and in accordance with the art, and the patient feels no pain.

General anesthesia is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist, who not only puts the patient into a state of unconsciousness by administering the appropriate drugs, but also watches over the patient throughout the procedure and controls the awakening process. 

The drugs that are administered then are:

• Painkillers - eliminate the sensation of pain;
• Anesthetics - act on the central nervous system, abolish consciousness and cause oblivion. They are administered throughout the operation to maintain the proper depth of anesthesia;
• muscle relaxants (they are not always administered, but are necessary, for example, during laparoscopic procedures) - they cause reversible paralysis of skeletal muscles and inhibit reflexes. 

The most common types of anesthesia are:

• Inhalational anesthesia - anesthetic drugs in the form of gases that do not irritate the respiratory system are administered to induce and maintain the state of anesthesia;
• Intravenous anesthesia - drugs are administered through a puncture, commonly known as a venflon;
• Compound anesthesia - is a combination of the two previous types of anesthesia, which makes it possible to reduce the doses of drugs (this translates into reduced toxicity and reduced risk of side effects).

What happens during anesthesia?

Each procedure is preceded by a detailed discussion with the anesthesiologist, during which the doctor qualifies the patient for anesthesia and instructs what the interval between the last meal and the start of the anesthesia procedure should be. Carrying out this recommendation is very important, as it helps minimize the risk of choking on food content and the consequent occurrence of respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress.

On the day of surgery, the patient is transported to the operating room, where he is met by an anesthesiologist and a team of anesthesia nurses. High-concentration oxygen is then administered through a mask (which provides an additional oxygen reserve in case of difficulties during intubation), and in the next step drugs that cause the lifting of consciousness (anesthetics), after which the patient falls asleep. This is the moment many people fear the most, but is it right?

How safe is anesthesia?

In the operating room, a team of doctors and nurses work in full concentration to watch over the patient's condition. The patient is constantly monitored - he has ECG electrodes in place, a pulse oximeter (which allows you to control the saturation, or saturation of the blood with oxygen) and a blood pressure cuff.

If the procedure requires airway control, it may be necessary to use intubation, which involves inserting an endotracheal tube through the throat into the trachea. This offers the possibility of mechanically assisting breathing during anesthesia.

‍Theanesthesiology staffis constantly watching the depth of anesthesia and responding when needed.

‍Whatdoes it look like to come out of anesthesia?

When the surgeon performing the procedure finishes the operation, the anesthesiologist gradually reduces the dose of drugs administered to affect consciousness. This causes the patient to slowly awaken, start breathing on his own and regain consciousness. He is transported to the recovery room, where he continues to be under the watchful eye of specialists who monitor his condition and will react if postoperative complications arise.

‍Problemswith awakening after surgery are very rare.

‍Doesanesthesia affect the patient?

Narcosis is a relatively safe medical procedure, but it is not without side effects. These, however, are extremely rare and are correlated with health status, age, and natural predisposition. 

‍Afteranesthesia, the patient may experience drowsiness, disorientation, problems with concentration and weakness, which, however, disappear fairly quickly (usually within a few hours of the end of the operation). The patient also does not remember the procedure itself, which is a result of the drugs used during general anesthesia.Sometimes after anesthesia there are side effects, such as:

• nausea, vomiting;

• sore throat, hoarseness (are the result of anesthesia with an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask);

• Drowsiness;

• Short-term memory disorders.

Respiratory or circulatory abnormalities are much less common. 

Anesthesia is a medical procedure without which it is difficult to imagine any operation today. It is thanks to it that doctors can perform even the most complicated procedures safely and painlessly. The agents used in anesthesiology are safe, rarely cause complications, and the benefits of their use outweigh the potential harm.

‍FAQ

What could be the side effects of anesthesia?

‍Mostoften after general anesthesia there is temporary disorientation, drowsiness, weakness. Nausea, vomiting, headache and sore throat may also occur. However, they all pass very quickly, and more serious complications are very rare.

How long does it take the body torecover from anesthesia?

‍Thebody gets rid of the drugs administered during anesthesia fairly quickly. However, much depends on the patient's overall health, age and type of surgery.

What happens to the body during anesthesia?

‍Beingunder anesthesia, a person has no consciousness. The drugs administered cause abolition of pain, inhibition of reflexes and muscle tension. One also has no memory of the operation.‍

How does anesthesia affect the psyche?

‍Narcosisdoes not change the psyche, it only temporarily affects the body so that the procedure can be carried out safely.