The Following Terms Provide A Foundation For Understanding The Field Of Anesthesiology And Its Associated Practices And Procedures:
- Analgesia: The Absence Of Pain In Response To Stimulation That Would Normally Be Painful.
- Analgesic: A Medication Used To Relieve Pain Without Causing Loss Of Consciousness.
- Anesthesia: A State Of Controlled, Temporary Loss Of Sensation Or Awareness Induced For Medical Purposes. It Can Be General, Regional, Or Local.
- Anesthesiologist: A Medical Doctor Specializing In Anesthesia, Pain Management, And Critical Care.
- Anesthetic: A Drug Or Agent Used To Induce Anesthesia.
- ASA Classification: A System Used By Anesthesiologists To Assess And Communicate A Patient’s Pre-anesthesia Medical Comorbidities (American Society Of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System).
- Bispectral Index (BIS): A Monitoring Method Used To Measure The Depth Of Anesthesia Based On Brain Activity.
- Emergence: The Phase Where The Patient Transitions From An Anesthetized State Back To Consciousness Post-procedure.
- Epidural Anesthesia: A Regional Anesthesia Technique That Involves Injecting Anesthetic Medication Into The Epidural Space Around The Spinal Cord.
- General Anesthesia: A Medically Induced Coma And Loss Of Protective Reflexes, Resulting In A State Of Unconsciousness And Insensitivity To Pain.
- Induction: The Initial Phase Of Anesthesia Where The Patient Transitions From An Awake To An Anesthetized State.
- Intravenous (IV) Anesthesia: Anesthesia Administered Through A Vein.
- Intubation: The Insertion Of A Tube Into The Trachea To Maintain An Open Airway, Often Necessary During General Anesthesia.
- Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA): A Device Placed In The Patient’s Mouth And Throat To Keep The Airway Open During Anesthesia.
- Local Anesthesia: Anesthesia That Causes Loss Of Sensation In A Small, Specific Area Of The Body Without Affecting Consciousness.
- MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care): A Planned Procedure During Which The Patient Undergoes Local Anesthesia Together With Sedation And Analgesia.
- Maintenance: The Phase During Which Anesthesia Is Sustained Throughout The Surgical Procedure.
- Nerve Block: An Injection Of An Anesthetic Close To A Nerve Or Group Of Nerves To Block Sensation In A Specific Area Of The Body.
- PONV (Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting): A Common Complication Following Anesthesia And Surgery.
- Propofol: A Commonly Used Intravenous Anesthetic Agent For Induction And Maintenance Of General Anesthesia.
- Regional Anesthesia: Anesthesia Affecting A Large Part Of The Body, Such As A Limb Or The Lower Half Of The Body, Typically Achieved By Blocking Nerve Conduction.
- Sedation: The Administration Of A Sedative Drug To Calm Or Induce Sleep.
- Spinal Anesthesia: A Type Of Regional Anesthesia Involving The Injection Of Anesthetic Into The Cerebrospinal Fluid In The Subarachnoid Space.
- TIVA (Total Intravenous Anesthesia): Anesthesia Maintained Solely With Intravenous Medications, Without The Use Of Inhaled Anesthetics.
- Ventilation: The Mechanical Process Of Assisting Or Controlling Breathing, Often Used During Surgery When A Patient Is Under General Anesthesia.