Types of Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia:
The anaesthetist administers anaesthetic medicine either by injection or by inhalation to produce a deep state of unconsciousness for the duration of the operation. The anaesthetic drugs administered through a cannula placed in a vein can eliminate all sensation including pain, thus allowing a painless surgical procedure. You are monitored throughout the whole procedure and the anaesthetist can adjust the level of anaesthesia according to your unconscious state.
Local anaesthesia:
Local anaesthetic medicine is administered to a specific location eg the tissue near the surgical site. This numbs the nerve/nerves of the site thus avoiding the need for general anaesthesia.
Regional anaesthesia:
Local anaesthetic medicine is injected around major nerve bundles supplying body areas eg spinal and epidural anaesthesia where the lower half of the body is made temporarily numb. Or nerve block where local anaesthetic is injected around a specific nerve or bundle of nerves supplying sensation to an area eg the shoulder
Sedation:
This is an altered state of consciousness involving reduced anxiety, a sense of sleepiness (twilight sleep),relaxation and often reduced memory formation.
You may be aware of your surroundings. It often accompanies some form of local anaesthesia.
Learn more by going Types of Anaesthesia in the PDF brochure link.