Allow us to provide you the differences between local anesthesia vs. general anesthesia. We will also talk over about their side effects. Well, they use different types of anesthesia per procedure. It will depend on the condition and type of surgery you have to undergo. You may ask Armadale Eye Clinic what anesthesia is used for eye surgery in case you need one.
With the help of modernization and the continuous discoveries of our medical professionals and researchers, the industry has improved so fast. In comparison with the previous decades, the pain associated with any procedure has completely decreased to none.
Let us find out how anesthesia took part in this. We will differentiate local vs. general anesthetics, as well as their after-effects. Initially, we will talk about local anesthesia.
Local Anesthesia
This type of anesthesia works even if you are awake. Upon the application of local anesthesia, or sometimes called local anesthetics, doctors can perform surgeries or procedures painlessly even if you are awake. You are fully aware of what was happening in the procedure, feel slight pressure, but won’t feel any pain at all.
With attention to local anesthetics, it provides you temporary numbness into the small area where the surgery will take place. Mostly, they use these anesthetics on minor procedures. For instance, a skin biopsy.
Correspondingly, this anesthetics has two types, topical anesthetics, and injectable anesthetics. They apply the topical anesthetics directly to the skin or mucus membranes, while the other one is through injection.
Common side effects of local anesthetics
They considered local anesthetics as generally safe because after effects seldomly occur, aside from some tingling sensation once it wears off. However, in case that the injected local anesthetics are too much or goes to a vein, there are other symptoms that you may encounter. We have listed some of them below.
- There is a ringing sound in your ears, but it is bearable.
- Slight dizziness, but after a while, it will be gone.
- Numbness.
- A little trembling can also happen.
- It will seem to taste like metallic inside your mouth.
In the case of high doses, which extremely happens very rarely, it may also lead to the following.
- Random seizures.
- Low blood pressure.
- Heart rate lowers down slowly.
- Experience breathing problems.
General Anesthesia
It is a combined set of medications. General anesthesia is normally composed of intravenous drugs and inhaled gases. General anesthesia, upon application, will typically put you into a sleep-like state before proceeding with the surgery.
Under this type of anesthesia, you will not be able to feel anything since you are completely unconscious. General anesthesia allows your brain not to respond to pain signals or any reflexes. During this period that you are under the influence of general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist monitors the vital functions of your body as well as manages your breathing.
Another key point why they use general anesthetics is: First when the procedure will take a long time. Second, if the procedure will result in a significant blood loss. Third, if the procedure will expose you to a cold environment. Lastly, if the procedure will affect your breathing.
Common side effects of general anesthesia
General anesthetics have the ability to relax the muscles inside the digestive tract and airway. This will keep the food as well as the acids from passing through the stomach into the lungs. Fasting is normally necessary for about six hours before the schedule of the surgery.
Once the procedure is complete, the anesthesiologist will have to reverse the medications to wake you up. Waking up will happen either while you are still in the operating room or when you are already inside the recovery room. Here are the after-effects you might encounter.
- Feel groggy and experience confusion.
- Have a dry mouth or sore throat.
- You may also experience vomiting or nausea.
- A little aching of muscles might also happen.
- There is also a possibility of itching.
- After waking up, you might still feel sleepiness.
- You may also feel trembling afterward.
Generalization
In every procedure, the medical team will decide which type of anesthesia is necessary for your condition. It will also depend on the procedure you will undergo. Your team knows what is best for you to ensure your safety as they do the procedure.