Anesthetic drugs are undoubtedly the behind-the-scenes heroes in medical treatment, which not only pave a painless way for patients, but also ensure the smooth progress of treatment and surgery. Today, let’s join hands in this popular science expedition about narcotic drugs and explore the scientific mysteries behind them.
1. Two camps of anesthetic drugs: local and systemic
Local anesthesia: precise positioning, no trace
of pain Local anesthesia, the term itself contains its unique charm-only in a specific area of the body to work magic, so that pain quietly disappear. Imagine that when you are faced with the challenge of tooth extraction, the doctor gently injects anesthetic drugs around the gum, and in an instant, the area seems to be magic, and the pain signal is firmly blocked and can not reach the brain. The heroes behind this are local anesthetics, which achieve this magical effect by precisely blocking the transmission of nerve signals. Lidocaine and procaine are the best in this field.
General Anesthesia: a Dream Journey, a Painless Experience
Unlike the “small-scale combat” of local anesthesia, general anesthesia is a comprehensive “spiritual journey”. It makes the patient feel like stepping into a quiet dream, and all external disturbances, including pain and discomfort, are gently isolated. Whether through a trickle of veins or a gentle inhalation between breaths, general anesthetics can quickly melt into the blood and reach the central nervous system, exerting their magic of sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation. Propofol, midazolam and so on are the guides of this dream journey.
2. Reveal the magic mechanism
of narcotic drugs Local Anesthesia: a “Tiger in the Way”
of Nerve Signals The working mechanism of local anesthetic drugs is like a dexterous electrician who skillfully installs a “switch” on the transmission line of nerve signals. When these drugs are precisely injected around nerves or nerve endings, they act as loyal guardians, blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Just as electricity can’t flow when the switch is turned off, pain signals are locked in place and can’t have any effect on the brain.
General Anesthesia: “Gentle Embrace”
of the Central Nervous System General anesthesia is a more complex symphony. When these drugs enter the bloodstream, they seem to have magical powers that can quickly find and act on specific receptors in the brain. There, they put on a gentle embrace and suppress the activity of the central nervous system. This inhibition not only makes patients lose consciousness, but also brings analgesic and muscle relaxation effects. However, this “embrace” needs to be controlled with great precision and professionalism to ensure that patients are always in a safe and painless state during the operation.
The other side of anesthetics: side effects and precautions
Possible side effects: Understand and deal with
Although anesthetic drugs play an irreplaceable role in the medical process, they are not perfect. After general anesthesia, some patients may have nausea, vomiting, lethargy and other discomfort symptoms. In addition, a very small number of patients may also have allergic reactions to narcotic drugs, manifested as skin itching, erythema or Urticaria. In more serious cases, allergic reactions may even be life-threatening. Therefore, before the use of anesthetic drugs, doctors will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and monitoring of patients.
Precautions: Safety first
In order to ensure the safety and smoothness of the anesthesia process, both patients and doctors need to be fully prepared. Preoperative preparation is very important, and patients should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions for fasting and water deprivation to prevent vomiting and aspiration and other dangerous situations. At the same time, patients should also take the initiative to inform doctors of their allergic history so that doctors can avoid the ingredients that may cause allergies when choosing anesthetic drugs. Postoperative observation should not be neglected. Patients should stay in the hospital for a period of time to ensure that anesthetic drugs are completely metabolized and excreted from the body. During this period, patients may feel dizziness, fatigue and other discomfort symptoms, but these are normal reactions, do not worry too much.
Anesthetic drugs are undoubtedly the treasures of modern medicine, which provide patients with a painless and safe environment for surgery and treatment. By deeply understanding the basic classification, working principle, possible side effects and precautions of anesthetic drugs, we can look at them more rationally and better cooperate with the doctor’s treatment plan.
Anesthesia
