Introduction to Anesthesia

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts in anesthesiology for exam preparation.

Anesthesia

Loss of feeling or sensation, which can be partial or complete, resulting from disease, injury, or administration of an anesthetic agent.

General Anesthesia

Induces a reversible state of unconsciousness, along with lack of sensation and memory during a procedure.

Local Anesthesia

Numbs a small, specific area of the body while the patient remains conscious.

Regional Anesthesia

Blocks sensation in a larger region of the body while the patient remains conscious.

Analgesia

The state of freedom from pain, which can be achieved with patients still conscious.

Amnesia

Loss of memory, which may occur in awake or semi-awake patients without recollection of events.

Sedation

A process where medications calm or relax a patient, ranging from mild to deep sedation.

Hypnosis

A state of being asleep and unaware of surroundings; can be induced pharmacologically.

Nociceptive Stimulus

Stimulus that causes pain in conscious patients and reflex responses in unconscious patients.

Anxiolysis

A reduction in anxiety, which may occur due to sedation or specific anxiolytic drugs.

Tranquilizers

Drugs acting on the central nervous system to produce a calming effect.

Muscle Relaxant

Drugs that decrease muscle tone or paralyze muscles, primarily used to facilitate surgery.

Preoperative Evaluation

Assessment of the patient before surgery to ensure safety and address risks.

Perioperative Care

Medical care provided to patients before, during, and after surgery.

Surgical Anesthesia

A state characterized by the depression of pathways in the brain that manage consciousness and reflexes.

History of Anesthesia

The evolution of anesthesia practices from surgery without it to modern techniques ensuring patient safety.

Balanced Anesthesia

An approach using different types of drugs to achieve optimal anesthesia effects with minimal side effects.