• Anesthesia controls pain during surgery or other medical procedures. It can relax you, block pain, or make you sleepy, forgetful, or unconscious.
• There are three types of anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs a small part of your body. Regional anesthesia blocks pain to a larger part of your body. And general Anesthesia affects the brain and entire body.
• The type of Anesthesia you get is based on your health, the problem being treated, the results of your exams, and the type of procedure. Your doctor or nurse may prefer one type over another for your surgery. In some cases, your doctor or nurse may let you choose which type to have. Sometimes, such as in an emergency, you do not get to choose.
• All types of anesthesia have some risk, but major side effects and other problems from anesthesia are not common. Some health conditions increase the chance of problems from Anesthesia. Your doctor or nurse will identify any health problems you have that could affect your care and can talk with you about any concerns you may have.
• Some effects of anesthesia may last for many hours after surgery. If you had local or regional Anesthesia, you may have some numbness or reduced feeling in part of your body. Your muscle control and coordination may also be affected.

What is Anesthesia?

Anesthesia controls pain during surgery or other medical procedures. It includes using medicines, and sometimes close monitoring, to keep you comfortable. It can also help control breathing, blood pressure, blood flow, and heart rate and rhythm, when needed.

An anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist takes charge of your comfort and safety during surgery. This topic focuses on Anesthesia care that you get from these specialists.

Anesthesia may be used to:

• Relax you.
• Block pain.
• Make you sleepy or forgetful.
• Make you unconscious for your surgery.

Other medicines also may be used to relax your muscles during surgery.

What are the types of Anesthesia?

• Local Anesthesia numbs a small part of the body. You get a shot of local anesthetic directly into the surgical area to block pain. It is used only for minor procedures. You may stay awake during the procedure, or you may get medicine to help you relax or sleep.
• Regional anesthesia blocks pain to a larger part of your body. Anesthetic is injected around major nerves or the spinal cord. You may get medicine to help you relax or sleep. Major types of regional Anesthesia include:
  • Peripheral nerve blocks. A nerve block is a shot of anesthetic near a specific nerve or group of nerves. It blocks pain in the part of the body supplied by the nerve. Nerve blocks are most often used for procedures on the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face.
  • Epidural and spinal Anesthesia. This is a shot of anesthetic near the spinal cord and the nerves that connect to it. It blocks pain from an entire region of the body, such as the belly, hips, or legs.
• General anesthesia affects the brain as well as the entire body. You may get it through a vein (intravenously), or you may breathe it in. With general anesthesia, you are completely unaware and do not feel pain during the surgery. General Anesthesia also often causes you to forget the surgery and the time right after it.

What determines the type of Anesthesia used?