Anesthesia Popular Science | Correct understanding of anesthesia

In the field of modern medicine, anesthesia is a vital technology that provides essential support for various medical processes such as surgery, pain management and first aid. However, people's cognition and understanding of anesthesia often have a certain degree of prejudice and misunderstanding. Anesthesia is an important medical technology. Professional anesthesiologists use specific anesthetic drugs and technical methods to enable patients to receive medical treatment painlessly and conveniently in a state of temporary unconsciousness. However, in the impression of many people, anesthesia is just an injection. In fact, it is far from what everyone thinks. Anesthesiologists are involved before, during and after the operation. Today, let us re-understand anesthesia.

Definition and classification of anesthesia:

Anesthesia is a medical technique that uses drugs or other means to make patients lose their perception of pain, consciousness or ability to move. Depending on the scope and method of action, anesthesia can be divided into local anesthesia, general anesthesia and surface anesthesia. Local anesthesia is mainly used for pain relief in specific local areas, general anesthesia makes the nerve endings of the whole body lose sensation, and surface anesthesia acts on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. Different types of anesthesia are suitable for different medical operations and treatment situations to ensure that patients receive treatment comfortably and safely during the medical process.

History of the development of anesthesia:

The history of anesthesia can be traced back to ancient times. In ancient medical practice, people have begun to explore and use various methods to achieve the purpose of anesthesia. Ancient doctors used various herbs, intoxicants and other substances to achieve anesthesia.

As time goes by, anesthesia technology continues to develop and improve. In the early 19th century, British doctor William Thomas Green Morton successfully used ether for general anesthesia, marking the beginning of modern anesthesia. Subsequently, the discovery and application of anesthetic drugs such as chloroform and ether revolutionized anesthesia technology.

Since the 20th century, with the advancement of medical technology and the continuous innovation of anesthetic drugs, anesthesia technology has been improved day by day. The development of various new anesthetic drugs, such as fentanyl and isoflurane, has made anesthesia safer and more efficient. At the same time, the development and application of anesthesia monitoring equipment has also greatly improved the safety and accuracy of anesthesia.

Today, anesthesia has become an indispensable part of modern medicine, providing key support for medical fields such as surgery, emergency treatment, and pain management. With the advancement of science and technology and the continuous exploration of medicine by humans, anesthesia technology is still developing and evolving to provide patients with a safer and more comfortable medical experience.

Common misconceptions and rumors about anesthesia:

In society, there are some common misconceptions and rumors about anesthesia.

Anesthesia can cause permanent memory loss: In fact, due to the short-term effect of modern anesthetic drugs and the improvement of monitoring technology, anesthesia will not cause permanent memory loss. The patient's loss of consciousness during surgery and memory after anesthesia are protected and will not affect long-term memory.

Anesthesia can cause addiction: Anesthetic drugs are controlled by professional doctors in medical settings and their dosage and usage will not cause addiction. Patients may need some time to recover gradually after surgery, but they will not become drug dependent.

Anesthesia can damage the brain and body: Modern anesthetic drugs are strictly approved and monitored, and when used in accordance with clinical guidelines, they will not cause permanent damage to the brain and body.

The side effects of anesthesia are more serious than the surgery itself: Anesthetic drugs may have some side effects, but under the supervision of professional doctors and teams, these side effects can be treated and controlled in time. Compared with the risks that the surgery itself may bring, the benefits of anesthesia far outweigh the risks.

Risks of anesthesia:

Allergic reactions or adverse drug reactions: Some patients may experience allergic reactions to certain anesthetic drugs, including symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rash, and urticaria.

Respiratory depression: Some anesthetic drugs may suppress the respiratory center and cause breathing difficulties. In particular, special attention should be paid to monitoring and supporting respiratory function during general anesthesia.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting: Some patients may experience postoperative nausea and vomiting after surgery. This may be caused by anesthetic drugs, surgical stimulation or individual factors, and requires timely management to improve the patient's comfort.

Nerve damage: In rare cases, nerve damage may occur during anesthesia, which may be related to factors such as injection location, surgical posture, etc. Nowadays, medical technology is quite mature and the risk of anesthesia is constantly decreasing.

Hypotension and arrhythmias: Certain anesthetic drugs may affect heart function, causing hypotension or arrhythmias, which require prompt treatment and monitoring to avoid serious complications.

In general, anesthesia plays an important role in modern medicine and is one of the safe and effective medical technologies. I hope this article can help readers correctly understand anesthesia and support the work of medical staff. We should look at anesthesia with a rational attitude and not be overly afraid. Anesthesia does not reduce our intelligence or cause physical disability. It is just one of the necessary means for us to recover our health. I hope that when patients undergo surgery, they will not be afraid of anesthesia because of rumors, which will cause the operation that could have been safe, painless and comfortable to become painful. (Yang Wei, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)