General Anesthesia Essay

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GENERAL ANESTHESIA General anesthesia is a medically induced coma and loss of protective reflexes resulting from the administration of one or more general anesthetic agents. It is a state of deep sedation or unconsciousness during which a patient is unable to feel pain. A general anesthetic is a drug that brings about a reversible loss of consciousness. There are two modes of transmission. 1. Inhalational anesthetics. 2. Injections. Inhalational anesthetic substances are either volatile liquids or gases. Many compounds have been used for inhalation anesthesia, but only a few are still in widespread use. Desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane are the most widely used volatile anesthetics today. They are often combined with nitrous oxide. Older, less popular, volatile anesthetics include halothane, enflurane, and methoxyflurane. Injection anesthetics are used for induction and maintenance of a state of unconsciousness. Anesthetists prefer to use intravenous injections, as they are faster, generally less painful and more reliable than intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. Among the most widely used drugs are: * Propofol * Barbiturates such as thiopentone/thiopental * Ketamine * Xylaz. General anesthetics render the dog unconscious. They can be given by injection or inhalation. Light anesthesia sedates or relaxes the dog and may be suitable for short procedures, such as removing porcupine quills. For prolonged surgeries or extremely painful procedures such as surgery on the eye or orthopedic procedures, the dog may need to be kept at a deeper level of anesthesia. Preparing your animal for General Anesthesia There are several steps that may be helpful for a successful general anesthesia and surgery. 1. Take proper history from the owner. Check for any signs of exercise intolerance, weight loss, a recent change in urination or

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