What is the difference between partial anesthesia and general anesthesia?

Surgery is a common medical procedure, and anesthesia is an essential part of surgery. Among the anesthesia methods, partial anesthesia and general anesthesia are two common options. They are used differently during surgery, and each has specific advantages and risks. This article will discuss the differences between partial anesthesia and general anesthesia to help readers better understand these two anesthesia methods.

1. Concept and mechanism of hemiplegia

Half-body anesthesia is a local anesthesia technique. Its principle is to use local anesthetic drugs to act on the anesthesia area of ​​nerve tissue or peripheral nerves, so that the patient loses the feeling in the area during the operation, but remains awake and conscious. Half-body anesthesia is usually used for surgeries that require local anesthesia, such as skin surgery, limb surgery, etc.

The mechanism of hemiplegia is to block nerve conduction through anesthetic drugs, so that nerve endings cannot transmit pain signals to the brain. Commonly used local anesthetic drugs include lidocaine, bupivacaine, etc., which can block the conduction of electrical signals of nerves, thereby achieving the effect of anesthesia.

2. Concept and mechanism of general anesthesia

General anesthesia is a type of anesthesia that causes the patient to completely lose consciousness and general feeling. Under general anesthesia, the patient not only loses feeling of the surgical site, but also loses the perception and awareness of the external environment. General anesthesia is often used for surgeries that require general anesthesia, such as heart surgery, abdominal surgery, etc.

The mechanism of general anesthesia is to inhibit the function of the cerebral cortex by administering anesthetic drugs through the vein or respiratory route, thereby producing a state of unconsciousness. Commonly used general anesthetic drugs include propofol and isoflurane, which achieve the effect of general anesthesia by acting on the central nervous system, inhibiting nerve conduction and brain activity.

3. Application of partial anesthesia and general anesthesia

Doctors use different methods for the use of local and general anesthesia in surgery, depending on the nature of the surgery and the patient's condition.

3.1 Application of hemiplegic anesthesia

① Local anesthesia surgery usually involves anesthetizing a specific area, such as skin surgery, limb surgery, etc. Half-body anesthesia can achieve effective pain control in a specific area by blocking nerve conduction while keeping the patient conscious. For surgeons, this allows for effective communication and collaboration with patients during surgery, thereby improving the accuracy and safety of the surgery.

② Half-body anesthesia may also be a safer choice for some patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. For these patients, general anesthesia may have certain risks because general anesthesia will have certain effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Half-body anesthesia can reduce the effects of general anesthesia on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems through local anesthesia, thereby reducing surgical risks and improving surgical safety.

3.2 Application of general anesthesia

①Used for surgeries that require the patient to completely lose consciousness and all body sensations, such as heart surgery, abdominal surgery, etc. Compared with other anesthesia methods, general anesthesia can provide a deeper state of anesthesia, so that the patient will not feel any pain or discomfort during the operation.

② General anesthesia may be more suitable for some complex operations or operations that require a long time, because it allows the patient to maintain a stable state of anesthesia throughout the operation, while ensuring that the surgeon has enough time and space to complete the operation. In addition, general anesthesia can effectively control the patient's physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc., thereby reducing risks during surgery.

When general anesthesia is performed, a series of drugs are usually used to induce and maintain anesthesia. These drugs include sedatives, anesthetics, and muscle relaxants, which can produce anesthesia through different pathways and mechanisms to ensure that the patient is safe and comfortable during surgery.

4. Risks and precautions

① Half-body anesthesia: Although half-body anesthesia has fewer risks than general anesthesia, it still has certain risks, such as poisoning reactions caused by overdose of local anesthetics, local tissue damage, etc. Before receiving half-body anesthesia, patients need to inform their doctors about their health conditions and drug allergy history.

② General anesthesia: The risk of general anesthesia is relatively high, and it may cause intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as respiratory depression, cardiovascular system depression, nausea and vomiting, etc. Therefore, before general anesthesia, the doctor needs to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient to ensure that the patient is suitable for general anesthesia and take appropriate measures to reduce the risk.

Conclusion : Semi-abdominal anesthesia and general anesthesia are two common anesthesia methods. They have certain differences in application scenarios, mechanisms of action, and risks. When choosing an anesthesia method, the doctor will make a comprehensive consideration based on the patient's specific situation and surgical needs. Whether it is semi-abdominal anesthesia or general anesthesia, it needs to be performed under the guidance of a professional doctor to ensure the safety of the surgical process.

Author: Qin Hongfei Zhangbei County Hospital