ANESTHESIA

A. "Anesthesia" means "loss of sensation". Drugs that cause anesthesia work by blocking the signals that pass along your nerves to your brain. This stops you feeling pain. When the drugs wear off, you start to feel normal sensations again.

B.The development of effective anesthetics in the 19th century was an important factor in successful surgery. Before this time, few operations were possible, and surgeons were judged by their speed. Some doctors used alcohol or morphine to reduce the pain, but patients were usually held or strapped down. Many died on the operating table. Anesthesia meant that surgeons could like more time and perform more complex procedures.

Ether was one of earliest anesthetics, but it had some drawbacks - for example, it could cause vomiting. It was quickly replaced by chloroform, which was more potent and easier to use than ether. However, it was not as safe to use as ether, and could cause sudden death. By the 1920s, intravenous injection agents were introduced. They enabled patients to fall asleep quickly and pleasantly. In the 1940s muscle relaxants became available.

C.Anesthesia can be given in different ways, and not all anesthesia makes you unconscious. Local anesthesia numbs a small part of your body. You stay conscious but free from pain.

Regional anesthesia can be used for operations on larger or deeper parts of the body. The most common regional anesthetics (also known as regional "blocks") are spinal and epidural anesthetics. These can be used for operations on the lower body, such as cesarean sections, bladder operations, or hip replacements. You stay conscious but free from pain.

General anesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness, and you feel nothing. It is essential for some operations such as abdominal surgery. As the anesthetic drugs wear off, your consciousness starts to return.

D.Modern monitoring systems and a greater understanding of the functions of the body mean that anesthesia is now very safe. Fewer than 1 in 250,000 deaths during operations are directly related to anesthesia.

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