Local anaesthesia involves numbing a small part of the body while you remain conscious. This form of anaesthesia is used for minor procedures. General anaesthesia is often used for more extensive procedures. You are then completely unconscious, so you do not notice anything about the procedure.
Besides local and general anaesthesia, there are other types of anaesthesia. They ensure that you no longer feel pain in a certain area of the body.
Regional anaesthesia
This local anaesthesia is administered in a specific region of your body, for example an arm or a leg. This temporarily numbs the part of the body being operated on.
Epidural anaesthesia
Epidural anaesthesia is a regional anaesthetic usually used to numb the lower half of the body, for example as pain relief during childbirth.
Spinal anaesthesia
This regional anaesthesia is used to provide total numbness in the lower parts of the body for about three hours, so that surgery can be safely performed in this area.
Sedation
This medication makes you sleepy and relaxes you both physically and mentally. It is sometimes used to keep you calm during minor, painful or unpleasant procedures.
Combinations
Different types of anaesthesia can be combined. For example, regional anaesthesia may be used together with general anaesthesia to better control pain after surgery.
Sometimes a sedative is used together with a regional anaesthetic. During surgery, you will then not only stay pain-free, but also relaxed and calm.
Administration
An anaesthetic can be administered in different ways:
- as an ointment, spray or drops
- as an injection into a vein
- as a gas or vapour that is inhaled.