Anesthesia (American English) or anaesthesia (British English) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes.

May 30, 2023 · Different types of anesthesia work in different ways. Some anesthetic medications numb certain parts of your body. Other anesthetics numb your brain so you can sleep through more …

Sep 5, 2025 · Local anesthesia numbs a small part of the body and keeps you awake and alert during procedures. Regional anesthesia numbs a large part of the body and is often used for childbirth. …

May 20, 2025 · Anesthesia is a medical intervention that prevents patients from feeling pain during procedures like surgery, certain screening and diagnostic tests, tissue sample removal (e.g., skin …

Sep 30, 2025 · Medicine may be given by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or a skin patch. Anesthesia can cause a loss of feeling, awareness, or both. Sedation may be used with …

Jan 17, 2025 · General anesthesia usually uses a combination of medicines given through a vein and inhaled gases. You'll feel as though you're asleep. But general anesthesia does more than put you to …

General anesthesia is used for major operations, such as a knee replacement or open-heart surgery, and causes you to lose consciousness. Sedation is often used for minimally invasive procedures like …

anesthetic, any agent that produces a local or general loss of sensation, including pain. Anesthetics achieve this effect by acting on the brain or peripheral nervous system to suppress responses to …

What is anaesthesia? Anaesthesia is given to patients so that surgery and other medical procedures can be carried out safely, and without pain. The word anaesthesia means ‘loss of sensation’. People …

There are four main categories of anesthesia used during surgery and other procedures: general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, sedation (sometimes called "monitored anesthesia care"), and local …