Anesthesia: MedlinePlus Skip navigation National Library of Medicine Menu Health Topics Drugs & Supplements Genetics Medical Tests Videos & Tools About MedlinePlus MedlinePlus GO About MedlinePlus What's New Site Map Customer Support Health TopicsDrugs & SupplementsGeneticsMedical TestsVideos & Tools Español You Are Here: Home → Health Topics → Anesthesia URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/anesthesia.html Anesthesia On this page Basics Summary Start Here Treatments and Therapies Learn More Related Issues Specifics See Play and Learn No links available Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles Resources No links available For You Children Teenagers Women Older Adults Patient Handouts Summary What is anesthesia Anesthesia is the use of medicines to prevent pain during surgery and other procedures. These medicines are called anesthetics. They may be given by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or skin patch. They cause you to have a loss of feeling or awareness. What is anesthesia used for Anesthesia may be used in minor procedures, such as filling a tooth. It could be used during childbirth or procedures such as colonoscopies. And it is used during minor and major surgeries. In some cases, a dentist, nurse, or doctor may give you an anesthetic. In other cases, you may need an anesthesiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in giving anesthesia. What are the types of anesthesia There are several different types of anesthesia: Local anesthesia numbs a small part of the body. It might be used on a tooth that needs to be pulled or on a small area around a wound that needs stitches. You are awake and alert during local anesthesia. Regional anesthesia is used for larger areas of the body such as an arm, a leg, or everything below the waist. You may be awake during the procedure, or you may be given sedation. Regional anesthesia may be used during childbirth, a Cesarean section (C-section), or minor surgeries. General anesthesia affects the whole body. It makes you unconscious and unable to move. It is used during major surgeries, such as heart surgery, brain surgery, back surgery, and organ transplants. What are the risks of anesthesia Anesthesia is generally safe. But there can be risks, especially with general anesthesia, including: Heart rhythm or breathing problems An allergic reaction to the anesthesia Delirium after general anesthesia. Delirium makes people confused. They may be unclear about what is happening to them. Some people over the age of 60 have delirium for several days after surgery. It can also happen to children when they first wake up from anesthesia. Awareness when someone is under general anesthesia. This usually means that the person hears sounds. But sometimes they can feel pain. This is rare. Start Here Anesthesia (Nemours Foundation) Anesthesia Basics (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) General Anesthesia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Going Under: A Closer Look at Anesthesia (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish What Is Anesthesia? (National Institute of General Medical Sciences) Also in Spanish Treatments and Therapies Herbal Products and Your Anesthestic (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) Related Issues After Anesthesia: The Patient's Active Role Assists in Recovery (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) Anesthesia Awareness (Waking Up) During Surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Before Anesthesia: The Patient's Active Role Makes a Difference (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) Effects of Anesthesia (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Pre-Anesthesia Questionnaire (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) - PDF Role of the Physician Anesthesiologist (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Spinal Headaches (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish Specifics Hand Surgery Anesthesia (American Society for Surgery of the Hand) Obesity and Anesthesia (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Outpatient Surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Speak Up: Anesthesia and Sedation (Joint Commission) - PDF Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Anesthesia (National Institutes of Health) Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE PubMed National Library of Medicine Article: Knowledge, safety, and teamwork: a qualitative study on the experiences of... Article: Reducing postoperative fasting times by implementing a food service in the... Article: Can intravenous lidocaine definitely attenuate propofol requirement and improve outcomes among... Anesthesia -- see more articles Children Anesthesia Basics (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Anesthesia: What to Expect (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Helping Kids Get Ready for Surgery (Nemours Foundation) Sedation (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) What Is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist? (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish Teenagers Anesthesia -- What to Expect (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Women Labor Pain (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Older Adults Seniors: Surgery Risks and Anesthesia Complications (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Patient Handouts Conscious sedation for surgical procedures (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish Epidural block (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish General anesthesia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish Spinal and epidural anesthesia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish Topic Image Stay Connected Sign up for the My MedlinePlus newsletter What's this? GO MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA Anesthesia - what to ask your doctor - adult Anesthesia - what to ask your doctor - child Conscious sedation for surgical procedures CSF leak Epidural block General anesthesia Malignant hyperthermia Spinal and epidural anesthesia Related Health Topics Pain Surgery Disclaimers MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Learn how to cite this page