The Role of Anesthesia in Surgery

Anesthesia is arguably one of the most important advancements in surgical technology. Anesthesia works to numb certain parts of the body to ensure the patient doesn't feel pain during the procedure.  With the first modern anesthesia being developed in 1846, it has certainly come a long way in improving crucial parts in the medical field. But how does anesthesia work?

2018 studies have shown that anesthesia works by inhibiting communication between neurons that transmit pain signals.The restricted movement of these types of proteins are what numbs the patient, allowing for surgery to take place without any pain. To better understand how anesthesia works throughout the body, it is important to know the different types of anesthesia. General anesthesia is what makes patients unconscious and is used in major surgeries, like heart/brain surgery, or organ transplants. This type of anesthesia acts on the nervous system to affect nerve communication and dampen brain activity, eventually rendering the patient unconscious. General anesthesia also maintains a stable blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.

Regional anesthesia prevents the patient from feeling pain in a certain area of the body while keeping the patient awake. The most well-known regional anesthesia is epidurals, used for women to alleviate pain during childhood. Another example is nerve blocks such as the brachial plexus block that numbs the area from the shoulder to the arm.

Monitored anesthesia care, also known as sedation, is used for milder surgeries that don't require general anesthesia and is usually administered through an IV. There are a couple of levels to this type of anesthesia. Mild sedation does not result in the patient falling asleep and can respond easily to stimulus. For deep sedation, patients need stronger stimuli to provoke a reaction and moderate sedation lies somewhere in between. 

Local anesthesia is used to numb an area for minor procedures in two forms: injected with a needle or a cream applied to the skin. Examples of when local anesthesia is used is cataract surgery and dental work like fillings and root canals. It can also be used after more major surgeries to help with managing pain during recovery.

Anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) both administer anesthesia to patients. Anesthesiologists are doctors who have completed medical school and a residency. They are able to practice autonomously through the U.S. CRNAs are nurses who have specialized in anesthesia and past nursing school and have completed an anesthetist program. They often have to practice with anesthesiologists. 

Anesthesia is one of the most important surgical advancements in the medical field today. It has made thousands of medical procedures safer and more comfortable for people across the globe.

Written by Jada Gadoros at Incisionary

APA References

(1)What are the Differences Between a CRNA and an Anesthesiologist? Johnson & Johnson Nursing. https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty/nurse-anesthetist/differences-between-a-crna-and-an-anesthesiologist.

Local anaesthesia | Health Information | Bupa UK. (n.d.). Www.bupa.co.uk. https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/surgery-and-procedures/local-anaesthesia

Statement on ​Continuum of Depth of Sedation: Definition of General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia. (2024, October 23). Www.asahq.org. https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-continuum-of-depth-of-sedation-definition-of-general-anesthesia-and-levels-of-sedation-analgesia

How Does Anesthesia Work? An Expert Explanation. (2019, December 4). St. George\'S University School of Medicine. https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/blog/how-does-anesthesia-work/

The Role of Anesthesia in Pain Management. (2025). Gargashhospital.com. https://gargashhospital.com/blog-details/24/the-role-of-anesthesia-in-pain-managementortant

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