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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffGeneral anesthesia is a treatment that renders you unconscious during medical procedures, so you don't feel or remember anything that happens. General anesthesia is commonly produced by a combination of intravenous drugs and inhaled gasses (anesthetics).
The "sleep" you experience under general anesthesia is different from regular sleep. The anesthetized brain doesn't respond to pain signals or surgical manipulations.
The practice of general anesthesia also includes controlling your breathing and monitoring your body's vital functions during your procedure. General anesthesia is administered by a specially trained physician, called an anesthesiologist, often in conjunction with a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
- White PF, et al. General anesthetics. In: Katzung BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=4512662. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Life support and anesthesia. In: Klingensmith ME, et al. Washington Manual of Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3.1b/ovidweb.cgi. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Who is an anesthesiologist? Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/who_is_anesthesiologist.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Anesthesia topics. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/medical_specialties.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Postanesthesia care. In: Morgan EG, et al. Clinical Anesthesiology. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=895730&searchStr=anesthesia%2c+general#895730. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Dorian RS. Anesthesia of the surgical patient. In: Brunicardi CF, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=50. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Frequently asked questions. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/faqs.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
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