Local and general anesthesia are two common anesthetic procedures that are used for surgeries. What are the side effects of a local and general anesthesia? Book an appointment today at Broadforddental.com.au to know which of the two, local vs general anesthesia, will suit you.
Local anesthesia
Local anesthesia is a form of a drug that will make your body numb for a short time while you undergo a procedure or surgery. It is used for procedure or surgeries like skin biopsy, eye surgeries or dental procedures. Local anesthesia can be a pain relief to people who have a low tolerance to pain or anxiety on doing procedures. Local anesthesia or anesthetics prevents your nerves from communicating sensations in the affected area while under a procedure. Compared to the general anesthesia, local anesthesia will keep you awake and aware but relax. As local anesthesia lasts for a short time, you immediately drive yourself at home.
There are types of local anesthesia that your doctor or dentist will use to you, as pain relief. Here are the types of local anesthesia.
The topical anesthetics or anesthesia are directly applied to the skin or mucus membranes like the inside of the nose, mouth or throat. It can also use it on the surface of the eye. A topical anesthetics can be the form of the following:
- creams
- liquids
- gels
- patches
- sprays
Another type of local anesthetics is the injectable drugs used to numb patients while under a procedure, instead of pain relief. Compared to general anesthesia, local anesthesia Injectable drugs are used in the following procedures that includes:
- a skin lesion biopsy
- dental work like a root canal
- removal of a deep wart or mole
- growth under your skin removal
- diagnostic tests like a bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture
- pacemaker insertion
General anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of anesthesia where the patient is medically put into a temporary coma while undergoing surgery. Compared to the local anesthesia, the drugs induced on the patient will make them unconscious and unresponsive. It is usually given through inhalation or an IV. General anesthesia will be performed by a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist team, a specially trained nurse or doctor that will monitor the patient’s condition while undergoing a procedure.
When does a patient need a local or general anesthesia?
Local vs general anesthesia
Local anesthesia
In contrast to general anesthesia, local anesthesia is used when the patient is:
- Under a quick procedure and he or she do not need to stay overnight.
- On a minor surgery and does not need regional anesthesia or general anesthesia.
- The muscles will not be required to relax, or the patient does not need to be unconscious.
General anesthesia
Compared to local anesthesia, general anesthesia might be given by your doctor if the procedure are as follows:
- If it affects your breathing.
- The procedure will take a few hours or more.
- If the procedure can cause you to lose a lot of blood.
- A procedure will affect a large area of your body.
- General anesthesia is needed when the procedure involves the major organ, such as a brain or heart.
Side Effects
Local vs general anesthesia
Local anesthesia
In contrast to general anesthesia, local anesthesia is mostly safe and typically cannot cause side effects, except for a tingling sensation when it wears off. But, an overdose of it might give you the following side effects.
- You will feel dizzy.
- There is ringing in the ears.
- There’s a numb feeling.
- You can taste a metallic taste in your mouth.
- Experience twitching
And for rare case of high overdose of local anesthesia, you will have the following side effects:
- you will have low blood pressure
- experience seizures
- have breathing problems
- will have a slow heart rate
General anesthesia
Compared to the local anesthesia, general anesthesia have several possible side effects, and these are as follows:
- feel dizzy
- have temporary memory loss and confusion
- difficulty in urinating
- will vomit and have nausea
- there is soreness or bruising from the IV drip
- Due to the breathing tube, you will have a sore throat.
- You will feel cold and will shiver.
Local vs general anesthesia, have both its uses and side effects on our body. A proper administration of these drugs by your doctor will keep you safe.