Anesthesia methods can be divided into two main categories:
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is characterized by temporary loss of consciousness and a reduction in reflex activity, without any permanent impact on vital functions. It eliminates the patient’s awareness and perception of pain during surgery, while also suppressing reflexes and relaxing the muscles, thereby facilitating the surgical procedure. Through these effects, general anesthesia ensures optimal conditions for both the patient and the surgeon.
Regional Anesthesia
Regional anesthesia involves blocking pain sensation in a specific area of the body without causing loss of consciousness. It is commonly preferred for surgeries involving the arms, legs, or lower abdominal region. Techniques such as epidural and spinal anesthesia, which have become increasingly popular, fall under this category.
Regional anesthesia is widely used in painless childbirth, vascular surgery, and procedures below the waist, both during the operation and for postoperative pain management. Other methods such as combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, local-regional anesthesia, deep sedation, neurolept anesthesia, and intravenous regional anesthesia may also be applied depending on the patient’s individual needs.
