anesthesia

(noun)

A method of preventing sensation, used to eliminate pain.

Related Terms

Examples of anesthesia in the following topics:

  • Epidural Anesthesia

    • An epidural, or epidural anesthesia, is a form of regional anesthesia involving injection of drugs into the epidural space.
    • The term epidural is often short for epidural anesthesia, a form of regional anesthesia involving injection of drugs through a catheter placed into the epidural space.
    • Epidural anesthesia is most suitable for analgesia and anesthesia of the chest, abdomen, pelvis or legs, and has many indications.
    • Epidural anesthesia has been demonstrated to have several benefits over standard anesthesia.
    • The procedure for epidural anesthesia is similar to that of a spinal tap.

  • Dental Anesthesia

    • Dental anesthesia is comprised of a spectrum of different types of anesthesia that includes not only local anesthetics, but sedation and general anesthesia as well.
    • Most local anesthesia agents come in two forms, with and without epinephrine.
    • The most common local anesthetic technique, effective for the lower teeth and jaw, is inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia.
    • Nerves lying near the point where the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandible often are also anesthetized during inferior alveolar anesthesia.
    • The result is a temporary facial palsy (paralysis), with the injected side of the face drooping because of flaccid muscles, which disappears when the anesthesia wears off.

  • Intubation During Anesthesia

    • Although it is not the only means to maintain a patent airway during general anesthesia, intubation of the trachea provides the most reliable means of oxygenation and ventilation and the greatest degree of protection against regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration.

  • Vasectomy

    • No-Needle anesthesia: A local anesthesia allows the surgeon to apply it painlessly with a special jet-injection tool, as opposed to traditional needle application.
    • IVD reversal is much less costly than vasovasectomy which usually requires general anesthesia and longer surgery time.

  • Spinal Tap

    • Lumbar punctures may also be done to inject medications into the cerebrospinal fluid, particularly for spinal anesthesia or chemotherapy.
    • These needles can be used for collection of CSF or delivery of anesthesia.

  • Rhinoplasty

    • A rhinoplastic correction can be performed on a patient who is under sedation, under general anesthesia, or under local anesthesia.

  • Episiotomy

    • The incision, which can be midline or at an angle from the posterior end of the vulva, is performed under local anesthetic (pudendal anesthesia), and is sutured closed after delivery.

  • Liposuction

    • The procedure may be performed under general, regional, or local anesthesia.

  • Abortion

    • Hysterotomy abortion is a procedure similar to a caesarean section and is performed under general anesthesia, but it requires a smaller incision than a caesarean section.

  • Circumcision

    • It may take place in a hospital, but is usually performed, without anesthesia, by a traditional circumciser using a knife, razor, or scissors.