Popular Science of Anesthesia: Understanding the Effects and Risks of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is an indispensable part of modern medicine, which provides the necessary conditions for various operations and medical operations. However, many people still have misunderstandings and concerns about anesthesia. This article will introduce the basic knowledge of anesthesia, including the types of anesthesia, the mechanism of action, and the possible risks and side effects, in order to help you better understand anesthesia. First, what is anesthesia? Anesthesia is a medical technology that uses drugs to inhibit the activity of the central nervous system, so as to achieve the effects of analgesia, loss of consciousness, muscle relaxation and so on. The main purpose of anesthesia is to eliminate the pain during the operation, so that patients can safely receive surgical treatment in an unconscious state. 2. Types of anesthesia Anesthesia is mainly divided into two categories: general anesthesia and local anesthesia: 1. General anesthesia: makes the patient completely unconscious and unresponsive to external stimuli. General anesthesia is usually achieved by intravenous injection or inhalation of anesthetic gases. 2. Local anesthesia: Only specific parts of the body are anesthetized, and the patient is kept awake. Local anesthesia can be further divided into: Topical anesthesia: anesthesia for the skin or mucosal surface; Infiltration anesthesia: injection of anesthetic into the tissue that needs anesthesia; Nerve block anesthesia: injection of anesthetic around the nerve, blocking nerve conduction; Intraspinal anesthesia: including spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia, mainly for lower body surgery. 3. Anesthetic mechanism of action Anesthetic drugs play a role mainly by affecting the conduction of nervous system. They can inhibit the central nervous system, make patients lose consciousness, block the transmission of pain signals, achieve analgesic effect, inhibit motor nerves, relax muscles, inhibit the autonomic nervous system, regulate heart rate, blood pressure and other physiological functions. A complete anesthesia process usually includes the following stages: Preoperative assessment: The anesthesiologist will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient, understand the medical history, physical condition and medication, and formulate a personalized anesthesia plan. Anesthesia induction: The patient is quickly anesthetized by intravenous injection or inhalation of anesthetic drugs. Anesthesia maintenance: The drug is administered continuously during the procedure to maintain the appropriate depth of anesthesia. Recovery: After the operation, the use of anesthetic drugs is stopped, and the patient gradually regains consciousness. Postoperative monitoring: closely observe the patient’s vital signs and deal with possible complications. 5. Risks and side effects of anesthesia Although modern anesthesia technology has been very safe, there are still some risks and side effects: common side effects: nausea and vomiting: one of the most common side effects, especially after general anesthesia; sore throat: may cause throat discomfort due to intubation; headache: especially after spinal anesthesia or epidural anesthesia; Chills: temporary disturbance of thermoregulation after anesthesia; muscle soreness: due to prolonged retention of the same posture; temporary memory decline or confusion. Less common complications: tooth damage: may occur during intubation; anaphylaxis: may develop an allergy to anesthetic drugs; intraoperative awareness: a very small number of patients may remain partially conscious under general anesthesia; malignant hyperthermia: a rare but serious genetic reaction; nerve damage: may occur under local anesthesia. Serious complications: Heart problems: e.g. Arrhythmia, myocardial infarction; Respiratory problems: e.g. Pneumonia, respiratory failure; Brain damage: due to lack of oxygen or blood clots; Death: extremely rare, approximately 1 in 100,000. It should be noted that the incidence of these serious complications is very low, and most of them can be avoided by timely detection and treatment. 6. How to reduce the risk of anesthesia In order to reduce the risk of anesthesia, patients and the medical team should take appropriate measures: patients: truthfully inform the medical history, allergy history and medication; follow the medical supervision for preoperative fasting; quit smoking and drinking, maintain good physical condition, and report discomfort symptoms to the doctor in time. Medical team: conduct a comprehensive preoperative assessment, formulate a prescription anesthesia program, use advanced monitoring equipment, strictly implement the anesthesia operation specifications, and do a good job of postoperative monitoring and complication prevention. Conclusion Anesthesia is an important pillar of modern medicine, providing patients with a safe and comfortable surgical environment.