2007-11-27 06:41:16 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Depends.
General anesthesia is where you are rendered unconscious. Local anesthesia is where they numb whatever part of your body they are going to operate on.
If they are going to stitch up your nose or your finger, they will probably just use local.
If they are going to give you a triple heart bypass, they will give you general.
2007-11-27 06:45:01 · answer #1 · answered by slinkywizzard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they can, but a local anesthetic won't work in a lot of cases, as they would only numb the surface area and areas close to the skin, they won't numb any internal nerves. You also want to get the general anesthesia so you aren't writhing around -- you have to hold still even more than you do when you get a haircut-- and they don't have to worry about you blacking out from the discomfort of seeing your insides.
2007-11-27 06:45:40 · answer #2 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can do all sorts of things to avoid general anesthesia in some cases. There are a variety of nerve blocks, epidurals, spinals (best anesthetic EVER!), sedation, Bier blocks (not beer, sorry) or local infiltration. There are other cases that can be done only under general.
Any laparoscopic case, most belly cases, and all chest cases require general. For lung surgery, we collapse one lung so it can be worked on, and ventilate the other one. Most belly cases require paralysis of the muscles, and the ones you use to breathe are included. The endotracheal tube that we use to ventilate you is uncomfortable, to say the least, as is the process to put it in place. Not something you want to be awake for if you can help it.
If you are having a procedure that is amenable to a technique other than general, then go for it. I highly recommend the spinal. Best anesthetic ever.
2007-11-29 10:49:43 · answer #3 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The answer is yes to some surgeries. Some brain surgeries are performed and you do need to be awake during it so they can get you to move your hands, toes, etc: etc;. There is one also where they use a wrap, kinda like a big strap. Say your arm or leg or whatever and it is call a block. I had one to do surgery on my hand and never felt a thing.
2007-11-27 06:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by jim t 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a surgery last month, on my arm, where the crease is (elbow part) and they just numbed me and I wish they had knocked me out. I felt it a few times and almost fell off the table. the doctor had to ask the anesthesiologist to put my legs back on the table. From now on, they will knock me out for anything!!!
2007-11-27 06:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by ~~HEARTS~~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the type of surgery so you'll have to ask the surgeon. c sections and tubals can both be done awake as can several other things like surgery on the foot or knee or cataract surgery. they also do that lasik on the eyes while you are awake.
2007-11-27 06:47:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the surgery.....
If it is like a plastic surgery of course you have to sleep otherwise you'll be dead.....
Once I went to the dentist and I didnt want anesthesia...
It was the WORST pain of my life :(
and it wasnt even a surgery ..
AHH! just let them put that on you
2007-11-27 06:46:07 · answer #7 · answered by JESSY JAY! 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Generally, the medical community frowns on the patient standing up and walking out of the operating room after punching out the doctor.
There are limits to what you can do with local anesthetics.
2007-11-27 06:44:06 · answer #8 · answered by Elana 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The body has to be paralyzed not just numb. Would you want to be awake and alert and not be able to breathe on your own?
2007-11-27 06:44:15 · answer #9 · answered by hoppykit 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about that, I'd better be numbed really well!! It would be like an epidural but that only works for the waist down.
2007-11-27 06:44:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋