The short anaesthesia is a form of general anaesthesia. It differs from regular general anesthesia only in its shorter duration and the lower dosage of narcotics. In spite of this, one sleeps as with general anesthesia and does not notice anything of the operation or procedure. Even with a short anaesthesia, the airway must be secured with a mask ventilation, a laryngeal mask or a ventilation tube. A short anaesthetic is used, for example, for gastroscopy or other invasive examinations, which have a time frame of about 15 minutes.
Reasons for a short anaesthetic
Short anaesthesia is used especially in invasive diagnostics. Invasive diagnostics means that one has to choose procedures that are unpleasant and painful, such as a gastroscopy or colonoscopy. Of course, such procedures can also be performed without short anaesthesia. In case of very anxious patients or difficult conditions it can sometimes be advantageous to induce a short anaesthetic. Even very short surgical procedures can be performed under short anaesthesia.
Gastroscopy
In a gastroscopy, a small tube is inserted via the mouth and through the esophagus into the stomach and duodenum. Using the camera located at the front end of the tube, it is possible to assess the mucous membrane of the gastric tract and detect any abnormalities, such as an inflammation or ulcer. Gastroscopy does not always have to be performed under short anaesthesia.
Some patients also only want a sedative tablet and local anesthesia of the throat area. Only if the patient is very afraid of the examination or if the conditions are difficult, short anaesthesia can be chosen as the anaesthetic method. However, there are other risks involved, so that the benefits against the risks must be assessed beforehand.
Colonoscopy
In colonoscopy, a tube is inserted into the large intestine via the anus. The examiner can use a camera to look at the mucous membrane of the entire colon and also act therapeutically if necessary. In colonoscopy, a short anaesthetic is rarely used. Although the examination is unpleasant, it is not so invasive that an anesthetic is necessary. Patients can be given a sedative via the vein before the examination, which also reduces the pain.
