Anesthesia is a way to control pain using anesthetic medication.
General anesthesia, which can be injected into a vein or inhaled, affects the
entire body and makes the person unconscious.
A person under general anesthesia is completely unaware of what is
going on and does not feel pain during the surgery or procedure. Anesthesia
interrupts the pain signals between a person's nerve endings and the brain. The
health professional administering the anesthesia (anesthesiologist or nurse
anesthetist) monitors the person's condition throughout the procedure.
Possible complications from anesthesia include allergic reactions,
nausea and/or vomiting, and infections.
