General Anesthesia
For many people, the knife isn't the scary part of surgery. It's the "going under" that gets them = Kristin Leutwyler
HWN Suggests
General Anesthesia Hijacks Sleep Circuitry to Knock You Out
Ever since the first patient went under general anesthesia in 1846, scientists have been trying to figure out exactly how it works. The prevailing theory has been that many of these drugs tamp down the brain’s normal activities, resulting in the inability to move or feel pain. Similar theories revolved around sleep, the sister state to general anesthesia. However, research over the last decade has shown that sleep is a more active process than previously recognized, with entire sets of neurons clocking in to work while you catch your Z’s.
Articles of Interest
Explaining General Anesthesia
Studies of fireflies and fish suggest how these drugs really work
General Anesthesia, Sleep, and Coma
How anesthetic drugs induce and maintain the behavioral states of general anesthesia is an important question in medicine and neuroscience. Substantial insights can be gained by considering the relationship of general anesthesia to sleep and to coma.
General Anesthesia: A Probe to Explore Consciousness
General anesthesia reversibly alters consciousness, without shutting down the brain globally. Depending on the anesthetic agent and dose, it may produce different consciousness states including a complete absence of subjective experience...
How general anesthesia reduces pain
Fan Wang identifies the neural circuits linked to pain suppression during anesthesia.
Studies on the mechanism of general anesthesia
Anesthetics are used every day in thousands of hospitals to induce loss of consciousness, yet scientists and the doctors who administer these compounds lack a molecular understanding for their action. The chemical properties of anesthetics suggest that they could target the plasma membrane.
What is it Really Like to Undergo General Anesthesia?
While everyone reacts differently, there are many side effects that can be experienced upon waking up, most of which fall within the realm of ordinary. This includes feeling “out of it,” overly emotional, loopy, lacking inhibitions, having slurred speech, or behaving in an exaggerated manner. In fact, many patients and their loved ones find the recovery time after anesthesia to be humorous.
Resources
StatPearls
General anesthesia is most commonly achieved via IV sedatives and analgesics induction, followed by volatile anesthetics maintenance. Patients better tolerate intravenous (IV) induction, but inhalational induction is often used in children or where IV access is problematic.
