Overview

General anesthesia is a combination of medications that put you in a sleep-like state before a surgery or other medical procedure. Under general anesthesia, you don't feel pain because you're completely unconscious. General anesthesia usually uses a combination of intravenous drugs and inhaled gasses (anesthetics).

General anesthesia is more than just being asleep, though it will likely feel that way to you. But the anesthetized brain doesn't respond to pain signals or reflexes.

An anesthesiologist is a specially trained doctor who specializes in anesthesia. While you're under anesthesia, the anesthesiologist monitors your body's vital functions and manages your breathing.At Gayatri Hospital, we are committed to keep our patients pain-free and comfortable during medical procedures. Our anesthesiologist  Dr.Nitin Gupta, helps us diligently in that cause since anesthesia temporarily blocks sensory/pain signals from nerves to the centres in the brain.

Why it's done ?

Your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, along with your doctor, will recommend the best anesthesia option for you based on the type of surgery you are having, your overall health and your individual preferences. For certain procedures, your team may recommend general anesthesia. These include procedures that may:

• Take a long time

• Result in significant blood loss

• Expose you to a cold environment

• Affect your breathing (particularly chest or upper abdominal surgery)

Other forms of anesthesia, such as light sedation combined with local anesthesia (for a small area) or regional anesthesia (for a larger part of your body), may not be appropriate for more involved procedures.

sory/pain signals from nerves to the centres in the brain. The Critical Care Department has full time anesthetists who handle high dependency patients in medical and surgical ICU.

Risks

General anesthesia is overall very safe; most people, even those with significant health conditions, are able to undergo general anesthesia itself without serious problems.

In fact, your risk of complications is more closely related to the type of procedure you're undergoing and your general physical health, rather than to the type of anesthesia.

Older adults, or those with serious medical problems, particularly those undergoing more extensive procedures, may be at increased risk of postoperative confusion, pneumonia, or even stroke and heart attack. Specific conditions that can increase your risk of complications during surgery include:

• Smoking

• Seizures

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Obesity

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

• Stroke

• Other medical conditions involving your heart, lungs or kidneys

• Medications, such as aspirin, that can increase bleeding

• History of heavy alcohol use

• Drug allergies

• History of adverse reactions to anesthesia