Anesthesia Options
When you visit a doctor for diagnosis of and treatment for a health issue, he or she may determine that you need surgery to fix the problem. Your physician should explain to you all of the treatment options available (a process called informed consent), and you should also feel completely free to ask as many questions as possible. To make the operative process easier and less daunting, it would be best for you to learn about and understand the main types of anesthesia available to patients, and in which situations each would apply.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is generally used for minor surgeries on small areas of the body – for example, on an extremity or a tooth. The application of this type of anesthesia will only block sensation to that region of the body; the patient will be able to feel touch and pain to all other areas of the body. Typically, people who undergo local anesthesia opt to undergo sedation to make the process appear to pass quicker. Local anesthesia is often used in the following types of surgery:
- Dental procedures
- Eye operations
- Skin surgery
- Bone and joint surgeries
- Gynecological operations
General Anesthesia
Under general anesthesia, the patient is completely unconscious and intubated while the operation is being performed. Drugs are administered intravenously and the patient’s vital signs are continuously monitored by the anesthesiologist for the entirety of the procedure. Patients run a higher risk of experiencing side-effects during this type of anesthesia (as opposed to local anesthetic). Usually, general anesthesia is administered for more invasive procedures.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about surgery and the differences between local and general anesthesia, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130 to speak with a qualified lawyer about your concerns.