Can children take general anesthetics?Ĭhildren are able to be given inhaled and intravenous anesthetics. RELATED: What are local anesthetics? Who can take general anesthetics? Can men and women take general anesthetics?Īdult men and women can both take general anesthetics, but an individual’s medical condition prior to surgery may increase the risk of some or all general anesthetic medications. Midazolam, a fast-acting benzodiazepine, can provide relaxation in the minutes prior to general anesthesia. Xylocaine helps with reducing pain from medication infusions as well as reducing airway spasms during the insertion of a breathing tube. In the case of opioids like fentanyl and Ultiva, they help to keep the doses of the general anesthetics lower, improve pain control, and reduce coughing during the insertion of a breathing tube. While not general anesthetics themselves, the anesthetic adjuncts can be a critical element to success. Ketalar, but not Ultane, can be used for maintenance of anesthesia, too, but typically is not due to the potential for nightmares and hallucinations after it is stopped. When low blood pressure is a particular concern, Ultane and Ketalar can be used for the induction of anesthesia since they tend to increase blood pressure. Unfortunately, Diprivan can cause blood pressure reductions in some cases.
Add in the fact that it reduces nausea after surgery, and it becomes clear why Diprivan is frequently chosen. It works quickly, has few side effects, and can both induce and maintain anesthesia. The intravenous general anesthetics are a mixed bag of options. Adding inhaled nitrous oxide to the mix can reduce the amount of flurane gas needed. One reason for the flurane’s utility in anesthetic maintenance is that their dosing can be monitored continuously by measuring the concentration of the gas in the patient’s exhaled air. Fortunately, Ultane is not harsh, making it a good option for children undergoing surgery who may have fear of needles. The harsh taste of some members of this category can often preclude their use when trying to initiate anesthesia. The volatile gases or fluranes are capable of inducing anesthesia, but their forte is the maintenance of anesthesia throughout surgery. Types of general anesthetics Inhalational anesthetics Differences in side effects and patient characteristics guide the anesthesia team’s decision-making. They all exhibit a dose-response effect, meaning that the higher their dose, the more beneficial and adverse effects they have.Īnesthesiologists may choose one drug or set of drugs to induce anesthesia at the start of the surgery and utilize a different anesthetic agent or combination to maintain loss of consciousness during the surgery. Ketalar works by inhibiting the simulators of brain action, such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). To accomplish this, general anesthetics like the inhaled fluranes, Diprivan and Amidate, exert their effects by activating the natural inhibitors of brain action, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Quieting central nervous system (CNS) activity is the basic aim of this drug class. Some assist in pain relief, while others help with relaxation. Typically, they will use multiple different anesthetic drugs to accomplish the goals above, and in doing so, they will be able to reduce the dosage of each individual drug and consequently reduce the potential side effects.Īdjunctive medications are commonly used along with general anesthetics.
In reality, anesthesiology is more complex. There is a general understanding that anesthesia allows us to comfortably undergo surgical procedures that would be prohibitively painful and uncomfortable otherwise. The term “general anesthesia” is likely familiar to you.