What is general anesthesia?
General anaesthesia enables painful surgical or diagnostic procedures. Anaesthesia is characterized by not feeling pain throughout the body and total unconscious state. From the beginning to the end of general anaesthesia, the patient is in a state similar to a peaceful sleep. After preparation – premedication either as injection or oral administration – general anaesthesia usually starts by administering anaesthetic to the vein, which is sufficient for short interventions.
During a major surgery, intravenous administration of the anaesthetic is repeated, or anaesthetic gas is used. The anaesthetic agent together with oxygen are introduced either into a tight-fitting face mask or a special tube which is inserted into the trachea after the patient is put to sleep.
What happens during anaesthesia?
The anaesthetist is responsible for anaesthesia management and maintenance of vital functions within the normal range during anaesthesia and in the immediate postoperative period. His or her collaboration with the surgeon ensures your safety and security. The following is monitored and measured: how unconscious the patient is, blood pressure, pulse, breathing, need for urinating. Blood loss is substituted, and fluids might be administered intravenously. For safe conduct of general anaesthesia, it is necessary that the anaesthetist knows all details of your condition, type and scope of your primary illness, concomitant illnesses, age, weight and life habits. Using the questions in the anaesthesia questionnaire, which will be given to you before your surgery, we are trying to avoid even relatively low risks.
