GENERAL ANESTHESIA AND SEDATION

Both sedation and general anesthesia are forms of anesthesia, and although sedation is a component of general anesthesia, they differ in several aspects. In patients under general anesthesia, there is a complete loss of consciousness. This means that the patient will not feel, hear, or remember anything. In turn, being very sleepy, a state between being Decelerated in consciousness and not being unconscious anyway, explains sedation. Patients do not feel pain, but they are aware of what is happening around them.

As an advantage, the side effects that may be due to general anesthesia are eliminated by sedation. Also, patients retain their natural physiological reflexes and can breathe on their own.

However, this does not mean that respiratory support may not be needed in some cases where there is sedation. In fact, some anesthesiologists may prefer general anesthesia because this allows them to have complete control over the airway and thus eliminates the need to worry about the patient's oxygenation. However, the recovery time from sedation is typically faster than with general anesthesia.

Cardiovascular function is usually unaffected or maintained at various stages of sedation. On the contrary, it often deteriorates with general anesthesia, and careful monitoring is mandatory. In both cases, patients should stay hungry a few hours before surgery. The standard fasting period is six hours. Liquid can be consumed no later than two hours before the operation.