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HomeTypes of Anesthesia

Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia means “without sensation” or a “reversible lack of awareness”. The three main categories of anesthesia are general, regional and local.

General Anesthesia – Patient is unconscious and has no awareness of the surgical procedure or other sensations.

Regional Anesthesia – Patient receives an injection of medication near a cluster of nerves to numb only the area of the body that requires surgery, you may remain awake or receive a sedative.

Local Anesthesia – A local anesthetic is injected into the patient’s skin and tissue to numb a specific location.

What is Conscious Sedation?

Conscious sedation can be divided into three stages:

  • During minimal sedation, patient is awake and feels relaxed.  Patient can understand questions and follow the physician’s instructions.
  • When receiving moderate sedation, patient will be easily awakened and feel drowsy and may sleep through much of the procedure.
  • During deep sedation, patient will sleep through the procedure with little or no memory of the procedure.

    • What is Monitored Anesthesia Care?

    Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) does not describe the continuum of depth of sedation, rather it describes a specific anesthesia service in which an anesthesia provider has been requested to participate in the care of a patient undergoing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.