Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may recommend general anesthesia for procedures that:
- Take a long time
- Affect your breathing, such as chest or upper abdominal surgery
- Require you to be in an uncomfortable position
Other forms of anesthesia may provide light sedation or use injections to numb a region of your body selectively.
References
- 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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