Anesthesia (American English) or anaesthesia (British English) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes.

May 30, 2023 · Different types of anesthesia work in different ways. Some anesthetic medications numb certain parts of your body. Other anesthetics numb your brain so you can sleep through more …

Sep 5, 2025 · Local anesthesia numbs a small part of the body and keeps you awake and alert during procedures. Regional anesthesia numbs a large part of the body and is often used for childbirth. …

Nov 18, 2025 · In this video, Yale Medicine anesthesiologists explain how anesthesia works and the different types.

May 20, 2025 · Anesthesia is a medical intervention that prevents patients from feeling pain during procedures like surgery, certain screening and diagnostic tests, tissue sample removal (e.g., skin …

Jan 17, 2025 · General anesthesia usually uses a combination of medicines given through a vein and inhaled gases. You'll feel as though you're asleep. But general anesthesia does more than put you to …

Anaesthesia is given to patients so that surgery and other medical procedures can be carried out safely, and without pain. The word anaesthesia means ‘loss of sensation’. People under anaesthetic will …

Sep 30, 2025 · Medicine may be given by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or a skin patch. Anesthesia can cause a loss of feeling, awareness, or both. Sedation may be used with …

anesthetic, any agent that produces a local or general loss of sensation, including pain. Anesthetics achieve this effect by acting on the brain or peripheral nervous system to suppress responses to …

General anesthesia is used for major operations, such as a knee replacement or open-heart surgery, and causes you to lose consciousness. Sedation is often used for minimally invasive procedures like …