Types of Anaesthesia

Question 1

What is General Anaesthesia?

Answer 1

The patient is unconscious during the procedure.

Question 2

What routes can General Anaesthesia be given?

Answer 2

Intravenous injection
Intramuscular injection
Inhalation route
Intraperitoneal (rare)

Question 3

What are the components of a General Anaesthesia?

Answer 3

Pre-anaesthesia - period of fasting, assessment and pre-medication

Induction - administration of anaesthetic agent and intubation

Maintenance - provision of stable level of anaesthesia to allow surgery

Recovery - reversal of induction phase, anaesthetic eliminates from the patients system

Question 4

What is Local Anaesthesia?

Answer 4

Use of local anaesthetics to allow the patient to remain conscious.
OR
Can be used as an adjunct to GA.

Question 5

What routes can Local Anaesthesia be given?

Answer 5

Topical
Infiltrative
Block
Epidural (spinal)
Intravenous regional (involves tourniquet)

Question 6

How can patients be kept safe during anaesthesia? (6)

Answer 6

Appropriate PAP and history taking

Accurately weigh the patient

Appropriate pre-meds and other agents

Double check all drug doses and use minimal effective

Close monitoring during anaesthetic period

Adequate monitoring in the recovery period