What are the methods of general anesthesia?

In general, general anesthesia is a method of anesthesia that uses medications to induce loss of consciousness and eliminate pain sensation throughout the body. Common techniques include intravenous anesthesia, inhalation anesthesia, combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia, basal anesthesia, and target-controlled infusion anesthesia. Specific details are as follows:

1. Intravenous anesthesia: Anesthetic drugs are administered via intravenous injection, rapidly reaching the central nervous system through the bloodstream to quickly induce an anesthetized state. This method is simple to perform and has a rapid onset. However, respiratory support is required during anesthesia. It is suitable for short procedures or as induction for other anesthesia techniques.

2. Inhalation anesthesia: Volatile anesthetic agents are inhaled through the respiratory tract, absorbed into the bloodstream via the alveoli, and act on the central nervous system to achieve anesthesia. The depth of anesthesia can be flexibly adjusted by modifying the concentration of the inhaled agent, and patients typically recover quickly after discontinuation. This method is suitable for various types of surgery.

3. Combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia: This approach combines the advantages of both intravenous and inhalation anesthesia. Intravenous drugs are first used to induce anesthesia, followed by inhaled agents to maintain the desired depth. This method reduces the dosage of individual drugs, lowers the risk of adverse reactions, and offers both rapid induction and smooth emergence from anesthesia. It is widely used in complex surgical procedures.

4. Basal anesthesia: Sedative drugs are administered via intramuscular or intravenous injection to place the patient in a light anesthetic state—consciousness is impaired but not completely lost. This technique is often used in conjunction with local anesthesia. It is particularly suitable for children or highly anxious patients who cannot cooperate, helping to reduce anxiety and discomfort.

5. Target-controlled infusion (TCI) anesthesia: This method uses computer-controlled infusion systems to precisely regulate the rate of anesthetic drug delivery. Blood drug concentrations are accurately adjusted based on patient-specific parameters such as weight and age, maintaining anesthesia depth at a preset level. TCI provides stable anesthetic effects and predictable recovery times, making it ideal for surgeries requiring high anesthetic precision.

In clinical practice, the appropriate general anesthesia technique should be selected based on factors such as the type of surgery and the patient’s physical condition to ensure both anesthesia safety and successful surgical outcomes. A comprehensive pre-anesthesia assessment is essential to develop an individualized plan, and close intraoperative monitoring of vital signs is necessary to safeguard patient well-being.