Anesthesia
Anesthesia is a controlled, usually reversible loss of sensation, awareness, or both, produced to enable medical procedures or relieve pain.
General anesthesia: A medically induced state of unconsciousness and reduced responsiveness used during procedures. It suppresses awareness across the body, unlike techniques confined to a region.
Nociception: The nervous system's detection and processing of potentially harmful stimuli. Anesthesia can interrupt nociceptive signaling without eliminating every component of pain.
Anesthetic: A drug or substance that produces loss of sensation, awareness, or both. Anesthesia is produced with anesthetic drugs selected for the intended effects.
Anesthesiologist: A physician specializing in anesthesia, perioperative medicine, and pain management. Anesthesiologists assess patients, administer anesthesia, and manage vital functions during procedures.
Regional anesthesia: Temporary loss of sensation in a large region of the body, produced by blocking nerve transmission. It interrupts sensation across an area while often preserving consciousness.
Consciousness: The state of being aware of oneself and one's surroundings. General anesthesia suppresses consciousness, while many other techniques preserve it.
Propofol: A short-acting intravenous drug used to induce or maintain general anesthesia and sedation. It is widely used to induce unconsciousness and support intravenous anesthesia.
Anesthesia machine: A device that delivers controlled anesthetic gases and supports ventilation during general anesthesia. It delivers inhaled agents and helps control breathing during many operations.
Local anesthesia: Temporary loss of sensation in a limited area, usually produced by blocking nerve signals. It numbs a specific site without necessarily affecting awareness.
Analgesia: Reduction or absence of pain without necessarily causing unconsciousness. Pain relief is distinct from the unconsciousness that general anesthesia can produce.