Types of Anesthesia

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Local Anesthesia	This is the most basic form of pain relief. As the name implies, the type of anesthetic numbs only the surgical site. Local anesthetics work by blocking the transmission of nerve signals. With this type of anesthetic, the patient remains awake and conscious throughout the procedure. Local anesthesia is common for minor surgical procedures such as getting sutures for a cut or having a tooth pulled.
Regional Anesthesia	This type of anesthesia also blocks the transmission of nerve signals to the surgical site. However, instead of numbing only the specific surgical site, regional anesthesia blocks the sensations to the whole region of the body effected by the procedure (such as the arm or the foot). This type of anesthesia is versatile because it can be administered by itself, with sedation, or in addition to general anesthesia. Sedation (also referred to as "twilight sleep") often accompanies regional anesthesia. Before and during the procedure, the anesthesiologist injects the sedative intravenously. Another term for regional anesthesia is a "block." There are five main regional anesthesia blocks. Ankle Block: This is common for surgery of the foot, and it involves three or four injections of a local anesthetic around the ankle. Axillary Block: This is common for operations involving the hand, elbow, or forearm. Bier Block: This is used primarily in short procedures (lasting less than 40 minutes) on the forearm, wrist, or hand. Interscalene Block: This involves an injection into the group of nerves that supply feeling to the arm and shoulder. Spinal & Epidural Anesthesia: Spinal anesthesia works by injecting anesthetic into the dural space in your lower back (which is where the spinal nerves are located). This type of anesthetic blocks the supply of feeling and the use of motor functions to the lower half of the body. Epidural anesthesia is introduced in the epidural space (also located in the lower back) that only blocks the sensory nerve. This type of anesthesia allows the patient to maintain control of movement in their lower extremities.
General Anesthesia	This type of anesthesia causes the patient to lose consciousness. It consists of three parts: relieving pain (analgesia), making you unaware of the procedure (amnesia), and relaxing your muscles so that your surgeon can have optimum conditions for the operation. The anesthesiologist will monitor your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and depth of anesthesia throught the duration of the procedure. Towards the end of your operation, the anesthesiologist will begin to decrease the amount of anesthesia you receive so that you will awaken when you reach the recovery room or shortly thereafter.
*Monitored Anesthesia Care	Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) is common in outpatient surgical settings like the Ambulatory Surgery Center. MAC can range from mild sedation to a state of unconsciousness. It is often used in addition to local or regional anesthesia.

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