Anesthesia and Its Impact on the Organism
Anesthesia - is a temporary loss of sensitivity, including pain, induced by various drugs. It is an essential part of surgical procedures, ensuring complete painlessness during surgery.
Anesthesia in Switzerland is distinguished by the high professionalism of its physicians. A Swiss anesthesiologist working in a private clinic undergoes over 6 years of education and an additional 6 years of practical experience in a university clinic as an assistant.
The type of anesthesia is selected by the anesthesiologist during the preoperative consultation, with the primary goal being the convenience and safety of the patient. The choice of specialist depends on the type of procedure, assessment of patient-related risks, and the patient's preferences.
In private Swiss clinics, a thorough health check is conducted before anesthesia, and the best modern medications are used for the anesthesia itself.
General anaesthesia
It involves inducing a deep, unnatural sleep and eliminating various painful sensations through intravenous administration of analgesics under continuous medical control.
During anesthesia, the patient's sleep is maintained by the continuous and dosed administration of sedative medications intravenously or through inhalation.
The patient's breathing during general anesthesia can be independent, but more often, a breathing apparatus assists, adjusting to the person's breathing rate and depth. For short and simple surgeries, a mask is used through which the patient breathes a mixture of oxygen, air, and anesthetic gases.
Patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases receive the necessary medications during anesthesia to support heart function or normalize blood pressure. In diabetic patients, blood sugar levels are monitored.
Contraindications to general anesthesia include:
Poor patient condition, where the risk of anesthesia may outweigh the risk of the operation. This may include a recent myocardial infarction, severe cardiac or respiratory failure, or a recent surgery.
Anatomical peculiarities of the patient.
In such cases, the doctor and surgeon determine the appropriate anesthesia apparatus for the patient.
Local Anesthesia
It renders only a specific area of the body insensitive during surgery, and the patient is not put into a deep sleep. It can be used independently in surgery, in combination with general anesthesia, or simply for postoperative pain management.
The principle involves injecting a local anesthetic with varying durations near nerves to interfere with the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
Currently, it is used mainly for minor surface surgeries. A local anesthetic ointment is applied to the skin, including anesthetic, and after 30-40 minutes, the procedure can be performed painlessly.
Increased risks of anesthesia occur when:
The patient has a chronic disease (hypertension, asthma, diabetes).
The patient is allergic to medications.
The person smokes, consumes alcohol, and drugs.
The patient did not follow the recommendations for preparing for surgery and anesthesia, such as fasting.
Regional Anesthesia
It allows pain relief for specific body parts. The most known are spinal and epidural anesthesia, where a small amount of local anesthetic blocks pain and motor nerve impulses in the lower part of the body.
Most surgeries on the lower limbs are performed under this type of anesthesia. For elderly individuals, this anesthesia serves as an alternative to joint replacement surgeries for the knee and hip.
Regional anesthesia is also used for surgeries on the upper limbs. The location of the nerve plexus is precisely determined with a special device, and a local anesthetic is injected. Within 20-30 minutes, the arm loses sensitivity and mobility.
This version of anesthesia lasts 2-3 hours, after which all normal sensations are gradually restored.
Contraindications to regional anesthesia include:
Infection at the injection site.
Tattoo at the injection site – a relative contraindication; in some cases, anesthesia can be administered in another location or at a different angle.
Preparation for Surgery:
Inform the doctor of any changes in health, especially for women – the onset of menstruation or possible pregnancy.
Abstain from alcohol and tobacco for 12 hours before visiting the clinic.
Prepare for possible hospitalization for more than one day.
On the Day of Surgery:
Do not eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the operation.
Avoid using cosmetics, nail polish, and contact lenses. Colored nails may interfere with the operation of the oxygen apparatus connected to the finger.
Take medications prescribed by the anesthesiologist with a maximum of one sip of water.
Before the operation, you will need to change into special underwear provided by the nurse.
If necessary, bring a hearing aid or asthma inhaler into the operating room.