Anaesthetic techniques

Anaesthetics are administered by anaesthesiologists. Anaesthesiologists also control and monitor the depth of the anaesthetic for the entire duration of the operation and adjust it with reference to specific target variables, in relation to the type and duration of the surgical intervention, and to the individual characteristics of both the patient and the intervention itself. While doing so, the anaesthesiologist also records and monitors the vital data on the state of health and physiological condition of the anaesthetised patient. These important "vital parameters, including heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen content and carbon dioxide content of the exhaled air, form the basis of any modern anaesthesia.

If required, it is possible to introduce some further monitoring measures, such as relaxometry (measuring the level of muscle relaxation) or EEG-based anaesthetic depth measurement.

Summarizing, we can say that:
Never again you will be under such control, the way you are under anaesthetics!

Local anaesthetics
In orthopaedic/trauma surgery, local anaesthetics or regional anaesthetics are used primarily for interventions performed on the extremities. The required elimination of pain is achieved though injecting a special anesthetic in the area around the nervous pathways, responsible for transmitting of pain. Local anaesthesia will remain effective for several hours.
At the ATOS Practice Clinic we primarily use brachial plexus blocks for interventions above the level of the upper arm and spinal anaesthetics for operations on the legs.
Regional anaesthetics do not affect the patient's consciousness. If required or on demand, it can always be supplemented by a sedative. It goes without saying, that while using this type of anesthetic, your physiological functions are also closely monitored and supported, if needed. In this case, the monitoring and control performed by an anaesthesiologist is obligatory as well.

Analgesic sedation
Analgesic sedation, the so-called twilight sleep, is a more or less superficial type of general anaesthesia. It is generally used together with regional or local anaesthetics. Analgesic sedation involves the administration of specific doses of analgesics and sedatives that induce a sleep-like state in patients. This allows certain interventions to be performed in a pleasant and painless way for the patient. Although the use of analgesic sedation is restricted by the duration and level of invasiveness of the procedure performed.
This kind of procedure also requires continuous monitoring of the patient and consecutive registering of the important physiological functions by an anaesthesiologist.