Anesthesia refers to medications that either cause sedation or a reduction in the sensation of feeling. Anesthesia is typically used in dental or surgical procedures. Your dentist may decide to pull out your teeth, or your surgeon may need to remove your appendix or gallbladder. If you're in labor you may need anesthetic medications to help you tolerate the pain to deliver a baby. Local, regional and general anesthesia are the three types of anesthetic drugs available.
Local Anesthesia
KidsHealth.org says that local anesthesia refers to a medication that is used to affect only a small region of the body. For example, it may affect the foot, a small patch of skin or your gums. Local anesthetics are given as a spray, injection, cream or ointment.
Medications such as novocaine and lidocaine are examples of local anesthetic medications. You will typically be awake when you receive local anesthesia. This form of anesthesia is indicated in minor surgical procedures such as pulling out a tooth, draining an abscess on your skin or removing a superficially embedded nail from your foot.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia, unlike local anesthesia, results in complete loss of consciousness. According to the Mayo Clinic, your surgeon will inject you with intravenous medications or you will inhale such medications as sevoflurane. These types of anesthetic drugs leaves you with no memory of your surgical procedure.
The Mayo Clinic says that risks for general anesthesia include being temporarily confused or even having a heart attack. Undergoing general anesthesia also increases your risk for stroke, lung infections and even death. Also, the Mayo Clinic says that one to two people out of every 1000 people suffer from anesthesia awareness. This is a condition in which you wake up during your surgery. Oftentimes, you are just aware of your surroundings and do not feel any pain. In other unfortunate cases, you can feel terrible pain and you will later develop mental problems. Daily alcohol use, problems with your heart and lungs and chronic cocaine and anticonvulsant use put you at risk for developing anesthesia awareness.
Regional Anesthesia
KidsHealth.org says that regional anesthesia refers to a drug that is injected within a group of nerves. This typically occurs when you are in labor and your doctor injects the nerves in your pelvic region. An epidural in the spine is also another example of regional anesthesia. Sometimes general and regional anesthesia are used simultaneously.
