Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Traumatic anesthesia

    Loss of sensation resulting from nerve injury.  

  • Surgical anesthesia

    Depth of anesthesia at which relaxation of muscles and loss of sensation and consciousness are adequate for the performance of surgery.  

  • Stages of anesthesia

    The distinct series of steps through which anesthesia progresses. The first stage of pharmacologically induced general anesthesia includes preliminary excitement until voluntary control is lost. Because hearing is the last sense to be lost, the conversation of operating room staff should be guarded during this stage. The second stage consists of loss of voluntary control.…

  • Splanchnic anesthesia

    Anesthesia produced by injection of an anesthetic into the splanchnic ganglion.  

  • Segmental anesthesia

    Anesthesia due to a pathological or surgically induced lesion of a nerve root.  

  • Saddle block anesthesia

    Anesthesia produced by introducing the anesthetic agent into the fourth lumbar interspace to anesthetize the perineum and the buttocks.  

  • Rectal anesthesia

    General anesthesia produced by introduction of an anesthetic agent into the rectum, used especially in managing pediatric patients. Anesthesia brought about by administering the anesthetic through the rectum.  

  • Pudendal anesthesia

    Local anesthesia used primarily in obstetrics (e.g., to facilitate pelvic surgery or childbirth). The pudendal nerve on each side, near the spinous process of the ischium, is blocked.  

  • Primary anesthesia

    The first stage of general anesthesia, before unconsciousness.  

  • Peripheral anesthesia

    Local anesthesia produced when a nerve is blocked with an appropriate agent.