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ANAETHESIA
Introduction
Anesthesia is derived from Greek meaning “loss
of sensation”
It is a reversible condition after which the patient
come out of the “loss of sensation” state.
With the help of anesthesia, painful procedures
can be done without the patients experiencing
pain.

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Medications that cause anaesthesia are called
anaesthetics.
Anaesthetics are used for pain relief during tests
or surgical operations so that the patient does
not feel any of the following:
• pain
• touch
• pressure
• temperature

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described in the slide below.
How anaesthetics work
Anaesthetics work by blocking the signals that
pass along nerves to brain.
Therefore anaesthetics stop the nerve signals
reaching the brain, and allow procedures to be
carried out without feeling anything.
When the anaesthetic wears off, the signals will
work again and sensation will come back.
There are different types of anaesthesia as

4. Types of anaesthesia
• Local anaesthetic – This is given in the very
area under operation. It is used for minor
procedures and tests to numb the nerves in
that area. The patient remains conscious
during the procedure but does not feel any
pain.
• Regional anaesthetic – This is used for larger
or deeper operations where the nerves are
hard to reach.
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5. • Epidural anaesthetic – a regional anaesthetic
used to numb the lower half of your body, which
is often used for childbirth during caesarian
section.
• Spinal anaesthesia – a regional anaesthetic
that is used to numb your spinal nerves so that
surgery can be carried out in this area.
• General anaesthetic – This is used for bigger
operations which requires patient to be
unconscious. The whole body is paralyzed
that the patient does not feel anything atall. 34

6. Diagram showing epidural space
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• Sedation – This is used in painful or unpleasant
procedures that are otherwise minor.
Side effects of anaesthetics
• feeling sick or vomiting
• dizziness and feeling faint
• feeling cold and shivering
• headache
• itchiness
• bruising and soreness

8. • Intramuscular etc..
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• permanent nerve damage (causing paralysis or
numbness)
• a serious allergic reaction to the anaesthetic
(anaphylaxis)
• death, which is extremely rare
Route of administration
• Inhalation
• Intravenous
Complications and risks

9. Nurse’s role in surgical diagnosis
Diagnosis is not only the task of the doctor only.
The nurse also has a role to play in the accurate
diagnosis because she/he always encounters
the patient before the doctor.
The nurse therefore has the following roles:
Takes proper history and document them.
Takes observations and record them
Assists doctor by preparing equipment for
examination.
Carries out ordered investigations and other
orders. 38

10. Identification of a patient
• Patients should be identified by their names
not by bed number or any other
identification.
• A nurse should know that some patient
answer yes, when it is another patient called.
• Some patients exchange beds
without nurse’s knowledge.
• The nurse should label the site to be
operated to avoid operating wrong part e.g.
right leg.
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