The medical world has touched new skies with advancements in surgical procedures. But all life-saving operations are not possible without anesthesia. Yes, you heard right! Anesthesia is one of the significant innovations in medical science. Without which it is impossible to carry out complex and sensitive surgeries. This drug suppresses severe pain by numbing the desired part of the body and lets healthcare professionals do surgeries effectively.
However, numbing any part of the body is not a piece of cake as if not done precisely, it could lead to death. Hence, this drug is only given by anesthesia specialists in Mohali or any other city who have done professional training and hold a legal license.
You might have several other questions related to anesthesia, like how much time does it take? What are its side effects? Take a sigh of relief because we are going to clear all your doubts about anesthesia in this article.
Read these eight interesting facts about anesthesia here:
Anesthesia Is Completely Safe
The safety of anesthesia is one of its most important features because it allows doctors and dentists to provide better care for their patients. There are very few risks associated with having general anesthesia, especially if you have been screened for pre-existing health conditions before your procedure as part of your preoperative evaluation.
Smokes Need More Anesthesia Than Non-Smokers
Smokers need more anesthesia than non-smokers because they have higher levels of carbon monoxide in their bloodstreams. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells) more quickly than oxygen, making it harder for your body’s organs to get enough oxygen from the air you breathe through your lungs. This can make it hard for doctors to determine how much anesthesia is required before surgery because there’s no way to know how much carbon monoxide will be present when they give you general anesthesia or spinal/epidural blockades (which are local anesthetics).
Anesthesia ≠ Sleep
Anesthesia is a substance that induces a state of unconsciousness and loss of feeling to prevent pain during surgery. Patients are not aware of the surgery and do not feel pain. It’s important to note that anesthesia does not mean sleep; it’s much deeper than that.
You May Wake Up During Operation
If you have been given general anesthesia, you may wake up during your operation. This is called intraoperative awareness or recall, and it happens when a person regains consciousness during surgery due to an anesthetic overdose or improper administration of anesthesia. It can be horrifying for patients who experience this, but fortunately, intraoperative awareness is rare. If you have questions about anesthesia, talk to your doctor before your procedure to know what to expect if something goes wrong during surgery.
Anesthesia Is Not Permanent
Anesthesia wears off quickly after surgery ends — usually within 20-30 minutes — but some people experience lingering effects from their surgeries for days or weeks afterward (postoperative cognitive dysfunction). This occurs because some anesthesia drugs disrupt neurotransmitters in the brain, disrupting brain function even after the drugs are gone from your system. Your doctor will monitor your progress closely after surgery to avoid any health issues.
Obesity Means High Risk Of Complications
Obese patients are more likely than thinner people to have complications after anesthesia, according to a study published in the journal Anesthesiology in 2011. This is because obese patients have higher blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature than lean patients.
In Rare Cases, Anesthesia Can Affect Memory
Some people may experience memory loss after being given anesthesia during surgery. This memory loss is temporary and usually only affects short-term memory, including things like names and recent events. It’s rare for anesthesiologists to use general anesthesia for minor surgery because this type of anesthesia can cause long-term brain damage in older adults or those with high blood pressure or diabetes.
Anesthetic Drug Is Affordable But Not Feasible To Buy
Anesthetic drugs are not so expensive, but everyone cannot buy them—only licensed pros like surgeons, dentists, and anesthesia specialists have the authority to purchase this drug.
The Bottom Line-:
That was all about anesthesia. Hope you found the information interesting!