WORLD ANAESTHESIA DAY

Anesthesia is the use of medicines to prevent pain during surgery or other procedures. These medicines are called anesthetics. They're given by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or skin patch. They cause a loss of feeling or awareness.

Early anesthesia can be traced back to ancient times, but one of the first European accounts occurred in the 1200s when Theodoric of Lucca, an Italian physician and bishop, "used sponges soaked with opium and mandragora for surgical pain relief,"

World Anaesthesia Day commemorates the birth of anaesthesia on 16th October 1846. When doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated the use of ether for the first time on a patient. In doing so they changed surgery forever, proving it was possible for patients to undergo surgery without the torture of pain previously associated with it.

Since 1903, special events are organized to celebrate this remarkable day. It is considered as one of the significant events in the history of medicine and was given in an operating theatre at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Local anesthesia- numbs a small part of the body. You are awake and alert during local anesthesia. Regional anesthesia-is used for larger areas of the body. You may be awake during the procedure, or you may be given sedation. General anesthesia- affects the whole body. It makes you unconscious and unable to move. It is used during major surgeries.

Heart rhythm or breathing problems, An allergic reaction to the anesthesia, Delirium after general 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.