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Chapter 11 - Introduction to General Anaesthesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2022

By
James Ip  and
Jo Han Gan
Edited by
Daniel Rodger ,
Kevin Henshaw ,
Paul Rawling  and
Scott Miller
Daniel Rodger
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, London South Bank University
Kevin Henshaw
Affiliation:
Associate Head of Allied Health Professions, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Paul Rawling
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Scott Miller
Affiliation:
Consultant Anaesthetist, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust
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Summary

General anaesthesia is the reversible loss of consciousness induced by pharmacological agents. Surgeries were previously often limited to superficial procedures and amputations due to significant patient discomfort. This chapter provides an overview of the conduct of general anaesthesia, and its various phases: induction, maintenance, and emergence. Core concepts such as depth of anaesthesia and perioperative care will also be reviewed. Anaesthetic adjuncts, drugs, and equipment will also be discussed due to their crucial role in ensuring patient safety during general anaesthesia.

Keywords

General AnaesthesiaAnalgesiaHistory of AnaesthesiaMechanism of AnaesthesiaBalanced AnaesthesiaRapid sequence induction
Type
Chapter
Information
Fundamentals of Operating Department Practice , pp. 107 - 115
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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