What drugs or remedies are used?
Usually, so-called “local anaesthetics” are used for partial anaesthesia. These work by penetrating the area of the corresponding nerve after injection and blocking the so-called “voltage-controlled sodium channels”, which are responsible for the transmission of pain. However, in inflamed tissue they have a much worse effect due to the altered environment.
Therefore, due to the weakened effect and the additional risk of infection, injections into inflamed areas should be avoided. There are different preparations, which differ in their duration of action and are selected according to the duration of the procedure. In addition, depending on the area, adrenaline may be added. This causes the vessels to contract and thus has a haemostatic effect.
Do you have to be fasting for a partial anesthesia?
Superficial local anaesthesia, which does not count as narcosis/partial anaesthesia, can be an alternative. However, only if the procedure allows it, e.g. for suturing small cuts in the arm/leg area. In addition, for endoscopic examinations (colonoscopy, gastroscopy, lung endoscopy) or smaller plastic surgery, there is the possibility of so-called analgosedation (“twilight sleep“).
The patient continues to breathe spontaneously and is monitored (ECG, measurement of oxygen saturation, pulse measurement, blood pressure measurement). Consciousness is somewhat dampened, and pain therapy is carried out with the help of intravenously given painkillers. Sedatives are also administered to shield the patient somewhat.
In addition to analgosedation, both general anaesthesia/general anaesthesia and a special variant of general anaesthesia, so-called total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), are possible. Compared to “normal general anesthesia“, TIVA does not use inhalation anesthetics and the medication is administered exclusively intravenously. Here “only” sleeping pills (hypnotics) and painkillers (analgesics) are used.
Certain substances with a particularly short half-life are used. This ensures good controllability/planability of the anaesthesia. Further advantages of this method are less nausea and vomiting, as well as no side effects associated with inhaled substances.
